LAYYAH: Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched the Insaf Sehat Sahulat Card Scheme in Layyah on Wednesday, saying the step will help authorities provide free of charge medical services to the public.
While addressing the distribution ceremony in the district on Wednesday, PM Imran said that such initiatives will enable the people to receive medical treatment as well as help the government establishes an entire healthcare system.
The premier praised Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab governments for providing every resident with health cards as doing so will bring prosperity to both provinces.
He also lauded the planned solarisation of Basic Health Units (BHUs) in Layyah and other districts, saying the project will be replicated in other areas too. He stressed on proportionate investment of funds across the country, especially in the underdeveloped areas.
The prime minister praised the Ehsaas programme for securing the fourth spot in the World Bank list for looking after the more vulnerable segments of the society in a transparent manner during the current pandemic.
Every family in the Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions could now avail health treatment worth Rs720,000, he said, adding that an additional Rs300,000 can be given to the deserving families when required. The prime minister also underlined the need to encourage the private sector to fully participate in health initiatives.
The government-owned lands could be offered to the private sector at affordable prices for the construction of hospitals and other health facilities, especially in the far-flung areas of the country, he observed.
PM Imran also asked chief minister Buzdar to pay special attention to those backward areas of the province that had been left behind in terms of development.
Migration of the people from rural to urban areas took place due to lack of job opportunities and basic facilities, multiplying population of cities, which led to a multitude of serious civic issues like sewerage problems and scarcity of drinking water, the prime minister noted.
Highlighting the motive behind the launch of the health cards facility, the prime minister said the poor families did not have enough resources to meet their health requirements.
He said the consideration for the plight of poor families had led to the establishment of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital (SKMH).
He said in Pakistan, the child mortality rate and the ratio of pregnant mothers’ deaths have historically been very high, so it is imperative to establish health facilities in all the backward areas.
Imran Khan also appreciated the solarisation of all basic health units in the backward areas of Punjab province as a very good initiative.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar apprised the gathering that different uplift projects worth Rs21 billion were underway in Layyah.
He said every resident in the province would get a health card facility by the end of the year.
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmeen Rashid said a vast network of health facilities would cater to the health requirements of the residents of the province.
Live Stream: Prime Minister of Pakistan @ImranKhanPTI's Speech at Ceremony of Sehat Insaf Card & Development Projects in Layyah (26.05.2021) #PrimeMinisterImranKhan https://t.co/AiKO22LbTt
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) May 26, 2021
