BAHAWALPUR: Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed that the universal health card scheme of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government will bring about a revolution in the country.

Launching the scheme in Bahawalpur division, the prime minister said the Ehsaas, Kamyab Jawan and health card programmes would turn the country into a welfare state.

He said the Rs400 billion healthcare scheme would cater to the entire population, adding the number of hospitals in the country was not enough for the increasing population and the funds needed to run a large number of hospitals could not be arranged even in the next five years.

Mr Khan, as usual, also berated the two main opposition parties for their alleged corruption and reiterated that rule of law was being restored now.

He claimed that according to the international media and World Bank, Pakistan’s economy and growth was showing an upward trend at the rate of 5.37 per cent.

He also mentioned how Pakistan had “successfully” managed its economy despite the pandemic, and taken measures to deal with global warming.

About south Punjab, the prime minister said previously the region had been a target of injustice and was deprived of its due development and progress. Amid applause, he announced that all injustices would be eliminated and a south Punjab secretariat established in Bahawalpur for the purpose. While welcoming criticism by the media, he said it should be balanced.

PM Khan distributed the first health card to Bakhoo Ram from Cholistan among others, including four women from the desert area.

Earlier, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar highlighted the salient features of the health card scheme. He claimed the PTI government had utilised massive uplift funds in Punjab within six months, as compared to the last 24 years to remove a sense of deprivation among its people.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2022