RAHIM YAR KHAN– Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht Tuesday visited Rahim Yar Khan where he inaugurated various projects in Mianwali Qureshian Zahir Pir and Tehsil Khanpur besides reviewed the progress in ongoing projects.
Laying the foundation stone of the plan for upgradation of Rural Health Center in Mianwali Qureshian, the provincial minister said that facilities at the level of Tehsil Headquarters Hospital would be provided in the Rural Health Center.
It will cost more than Rs300 million. He said that the people of Mianwali Quraishian were deprived of basic facilities in the past and the present government would ensure the provision of all the missing facilities to them.
Later, the minister left from Mianwali Qureshi for Zahir Pir where he visited the town committee office and inaugurated the newly constructed rescue station 1122 and sewerage in the area. He also made inspection of the modern machinery provided to the municipal committee. Talking to the respectable of the area on the occasion, the Hashim Jawan said that these projects costing more than Rs 40 crore were selected keeping in view the immediate needs of the residents of the area.
These projects would ensure protection against diseases. The presence of a rescue station will ensure immediate medical assistance to victims of accidents on CPEC and other highways. The provincial minister also announced the establishment of a surgical tower at Sheikh Zayed Hospital and Medical College and the establishment of a modern trauma centre under the Habilitation and Scope program in the area.
In Khanpur, the Punjab Finance Minister reviewed the ongoing and completed projects costing Rs 70 crore. The Deputy Commissioner Ali Shehzad gave a detailed briefing to the provincial minister on the occasion. Deputy Commissioner Ali Shehzad accompanied the provincial minister on his visit to Rahim Yar Khan and kept him informed of district issues.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the pace of work on the project of Cadet College which is under construction at a cost of Rs 63 crore in Khanpur, the provincial minister directed the administration to ensure the commencement of classes in the college in the same year. Further, the tree planting inside and outside the premises should also be ensured for the provision of a healthy and clean environment with teaching facilities.
Hashim Jawan said that the capital invested in various projects is the trust of the people which they pay in the form of taxes. Misuse or loss of funds will not be tolerated at all. In Khanpur, the provincial minister also reviewed the progress on Altaf Eye Hospital. Issuing instructions for immediate recruitment on the request of the hospital management for the provision of eye surgeons, the provincial minister said that the construction of hospitals without the presence of a doctor was meaningless. He instructed immediate steps should be taken to ensure the attendance of doctors in the backward areas. He also announced the news to the people of Khanpur that the eye hospital would be operational within a month.
Addressing the media persons on the occasion, the provincial minister said that Punjab government was going to launch a major health program at a cost of Rs 50 billion in the next financial year which would benefit 110 million people of Punjab. Under the Universal Health Insurance Program, every citizen will be provided health insurance of Rs 5 to 10 lakhs which will enable him to get all the health facilities. Prior to the plan, health facilities are being upgraded in all districts.
The construction of Sheikh Zayed Surgical Tower in Rahim Yar Khan and provision of road infrastructure is also a link in the same chain. He said that unlike the past, the present government was ensuring the provision of basic amenities in all the districts as per the needs of the rural and urban population instead of megaprojects. The priority agenda of the present government is to reach out to the deprived people of the province who cannot be harmed by hollow movements like PDM.— HANDOUT
