RAWALPINDI: Punjab Caretaker Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Dr Jamal Nasir said on Monday that a specific and reasonable grant proposal for all press clubs in Punjab, including Rawalpindi, is under consideration.

He said a dispensary has been set up at the Rawalpindi Press Club and that measures are being taken for the welfare of journalists.

“The agreement between the National Press Club and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) will be renewed in the next couple of days,” he said.

He expressed these views while addressing the programme “Meet the Press” at Rawalpindi Press Club on Monday evening.

He claimed that under the direction of caretaker Chief Minister Punjab, work has been started on projects worth Rs70 billion, including the ring road and the upgrading of hospitals in Rawalpindi. “Projects worth billions of rupees have either been completed or are in the process of completion in 100 hospitals, including 78 Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals and District Headquarters Hospitals across Punjab,” he said.

Dr Jamal Nasir said that work is going on in Rawalpindi on projects worth Rs70 billion, including the upgradation of the ring road and hospitals. Practical work has been started on the ring road that has been pending for the last 35 years at a cost of Rs60 billion.

Renovation and expansion of the Holy Family is going on rapidly, and the work on this project will be completed by Feb 19 next year.

Dialysis has been started in Murree. The shortage of nurses and staff in Murree has also been met on an emergency basis, while the dialysis centre has been made functional for 24 hours. He said that for the first time in Punjab, for permanently disabled people,an institution is being established. All basic health centres across Punjab have been activated for 24 hours, and ambulance service has also been provided, which will not only serve to bring patients to the respective basic health centres in any emergency but also, in case of transfers to hospitals, provide free service.

He said that special attention is being paid to the construction and development of Rawalpindi, along with revolutionary measures in the field of health. Besides the cleaning of graveyards in Rawalpindi at a cost of Rs 60 million, the process of complete drain cleaning was completed before the recent monsoon at a cost of Rs 120 million.

With the special interest of the Chief Minister of Punjab, he said that besides the 43 thousand lady health workers in Punjab, doctors and paramedical staff have been promoted to the next grade. He said that a meeting of the heads of all the hospitals will be called soon, and a comprehensive strategy will be formulated in view of the public facilities. Also, instructions have been issued to the Municipal Corporation to ensure the installation of street lights in Media Town.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2023