RAWALPINDI: On the directives of the Punjab government, 35 health professionals were given ‘Sehat Khidmat Award’ valuing Rs1.2 million for showing outstanding performance in their respective field.

PML-N MNA Raja Javed Ikhlas and acting Commissioner Rawalpindi Talat Mehmud Gondal distributed the awards among the recipients at the Potohar Town Hall on Friday.

Director Health Services Dr Ahsan Naveed, District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Fayyaz Ahmed Butt, DHOs Dr Abdul Jabbar, Dr Suhail and Dr Aamir, local administration officials and representatives of civil society were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Fayyaz Ahmed Butt said a team of experts selected the professionals for the award on account of their performance.

He said the selected professionals would get one basic pay at the district level, two basic pays at the divisional level and three basic pays at the provincial level.

The acting commissioner said a visible improvement had been witnessed in the health sector due to the measures taken by the provincial government under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

He said work on two new hospitals in Murree and Wah was continuing at a fast pace which upon completion would provide quality healthcare facilities to the citizens at their doorsteps.

MNA Raja Javed Ikhlas said the initiative of giving awards by the chief minister was to recognise the humanitarian services of health professionals who despite a number of difficulties were performing their responsibilities efficiently in both rural and urban areas.

He said the shortage of staff in the Basic Health Units (BHUs) would be overcome, adding more BHUs would be established in different union councils.

The MNA said the Punjab government had also introduced various initiatives to acknowledge the contributions and commitment of government employees.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2017