Punjab government has successfully arranged huge funds for welfare projects through better financial management and good governance in addition to restoring confidence of the philanthropists to serve the ailing humanity with a renewed commitment and vigor.
This was stated by Chaudhry Zaheer-ud-Din Khan, Provincial Minister for Communication and Works, while addressing a function for collecting donations from business communities, here on Sunday.
After receiving air conditioners, ceiling fans and fridge from Chiniot Educational Scholarship Society for the Allied and Civil Hospital Chiniot here, he paid best tribute to the vision and administration of Chief Minister Punjab who has repaid loan of 19 billion to center and thus making a saving of Rs 4.5 billion annually.
This saving is now being utilised for various welfare projects including the up gradation of emergency services in tertiary care hospitals of the province.
Chaudhry Zaheer said that elected governments are responsible of giving polices for the welfare of the masses while government functionaries are meant to implement these polices.
He hoped that the government employees would work hard to solve the problems being confronted by the people.
He said that a comprehensive and reliable road communication network is being provided in Punjab which will help in gearing up socio-economic activities in the width and breadth of the province.
He announced that Chiniot-Faisalabad, Chiniot-Sargodha and Chiniot-Pindi Bhattian roads would be carpeted with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank.
He said that Jaranwala road is also being improved while Summudnri road would also be dualized up to by pass. He said that these roads would also help in lessening population pressure on major cities like Faisalabad.
Chaudhry Zaheer thanked Mian Saleem Omer and other elders of the Chiniot Community and said that Chief Minister Punjab has provided an efficient Board of Management under the dynamic leadership of Mian Muhammad Latif who is making strenuous efforts to being about a qualitative as well as quantitative improvement in various health institutions of this city.
The minister asked the hospital staff to protect government assets and hoped that it will use the donations with utmost care.
Mian Muhammad Latif, Chairman Board of Management Punjab Medical College, Allied and District Headquarters Hospitals, said that BoM has given a right direction to the Allied Hospital that is catering to the needs of the 200 population of Faisalabad and its adjoining districts.
He also lauded the services of Chief Minister and said that 24 hour free medicine and emergency services are being provided to the needy patients on his special directive.
The BoM has also established a Drug Bank to provide free medicines to the needy patients. "Local Philanthropists are regularly contribution Rs 02 million for this Bank; however, he has planned to increase its limit up to Rs 1 million per month. He assured that each and every penny donated by philanthropists would be spent on the ailing humanity.
Dr A. G. Rehan Principal Punjab Medical College said that Chief Minister Punjab has provided funds of Rs 140 million to upgrade emergency services at Allied and DHQ hospitals.
Out of it 80 million will go to Allied while 60 million would be spent on DHQ to provide state of art facilities, in addition to increasing number of beds. He said that Chief Minister is kind enough to increase the salary of the emergency staff and now doctors and paramedical staff is bound the pay extra care to the needy patients.
Mian Saleem Omer, Mian Shafique Magoon, Haji Mian Muhammad Ilyas and Haji
Muhammad Nawaz Vohra Chairman, All Pakistan Traders Association Punjab also addressed the function.
Later Chaudhry Zaheer also distributed Shields among the philanthropists and doctors of the hospital.