LAHORE, Dec 19: The Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health on Monday cleared the Punjab Emergency Services Bill 2005 after suggesting some amendments to it. The committee, which met with Dr Muzaffar Sheikh in the chair, suggested that chairman of the Punjab Emergency Council, to be established under the bill, should be chief minister instead of chief secretary.

Similarly, provincial health minister should be vice-chairman to replace health secretary as proposed in the bill.

Four MPAs, one woman and one from the opposition, will also serve as members of a 10-member body. All the four to be recommended by the speaker.

Earlier, no elected representative has been on the council.

“We have changed bureaucratic nature of the bill through the amendments,” commented Rai Ijaz Ahmad, a PML MPA from Sheikhupura, who is also a member of the standing committee.

Another member, PPP MPA from Sargodha Dr Nadia Aziz, said it would prove a good enactment provided the proposed law was implemented properly.

“It was a good bill by the government and we supported it irrespective of our political affiliations.”

The bill is aimed at establishing an infrastructure for providing comprehensive emergency response to accidents, emergencies and disasters.

The Emergency Council being set up will ensure efficient and effective management of emergencies and working of the Service.

It will also review and analyze data about emergencies and recommend appropriate actions for prevention of such incidents in future.