LAHORE, July 22: The Punjab government has doubled the salary of the house officers with effect from this fiscal year.

Pakistan Medical Association’s Lahore president Prof Imtiaz Rasool, vice-president Dr Tanvir Ahmad, general secretary Dr Azeemuddin and finance secretary Dr Shahid Malik told newsmen here that decision had been taken after their meeting with the health department officials on Saturday. The meeting was presided over by chief secretary Salman Siddique and the secretaries of health, finance and regularisation were also present.

They said the decision would provide a relief to the house officers who were earlier taking Rs6,000 per month.

They said the meeting was told that the government had also increased the salary of the students of post-graduate courses from Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 besides giving them annual increment.

Fifty per cent senior registrar posts would be filled through the Punjab Public Service Commission while able medical officers would be appointed on the remaining ones.