LODHRAN: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar announced Rs18 billion development projects for Khanewal districts on Friday.

During a visit to the district, Mr Buzdar said at a meeting in circuit house that a sub-campus of an agriculture university would be established in Khanewal.

The other projects include Rs13 billion development of drainage and sewerage systems, Rs1.5 billion for construction and restoration of government buildings, Rs370 million for education, Rs580 million for the health system, Rs500 million for sports, Rs460 million for road repair in villages, Rs160 million for local government projects and Rs10 million for religious department.

Our Multan Correspondent Adds: Mr Buzdar also visited the Khanewal District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital where he said the government was spending billions to provide free of cost medicines to the patients in public hospitals. He inspected emergency and other wards besides CitiScan and physiotherapy labs. He also observed medical facilities being provided to the patients in the hospital and inquired after the health of patients. He also announced the provision of more dialysis machines to the hospital, committing more facilities and equipments on a priority basis. He directed the officials to make functional hospital’s trauma centre by January at any cost.

“All DHQ hospitals of the province will be made state of the art. I am determined to improve hospitals and all resources will be will be used to provide health facilities to the people that’s why I am paying visits of the hospitals to know the situation over there,” he said.

He said more facilities and equipments would be provided to hospitals for the treatment of children.

Health Secretary retired Capt Usman briefed the chief minister regarding the facilities and steps being taken by the government in the health sector. Earlier, the chief minister visited Kohna Police Station and inspected the upgraded waiting room, operation room, front desk, and staff room of the police station.

The chief minister himself got a token at front desk and waited for his turn. He went to the victim support officer of the front desk and observed the system. He also inspected the lock up and was briefed about crime mapping system linked with 15 emergency systems.

He expressed his satisfaction over arrangements in the model police station to facilitate the applicants.

He said that the process of change in police culture has been started from model police station which will further expand to entire province.

“The police will be made people friendly in real sense,” he said.

Provisional minister Syed Hussain Jahanian Gardezi, Commissioner Shanul Haq, Regional Police Officer Waseem Ahmed Khan, Khanewal Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Abbas Sherazi and other officials were also present.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2019