Terms UHIP unparallel to provide free treatment facility to every citizen
Amraiz Khan
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Wednesday said that the PTI government, led by PM Imran Khan, has launched a universal health insurance program (UHIP) from Layyah as it is commenced from seven districts of DG Khan and Sahiwal divisions to provide free treatment facilities to 4.8 families comprising more than 11.5 million persons.
Every family will be entitled to free treatment up to Rs7.25 lac every year and in addition to this, five days’ medicine and the fare will also be given to the patients.
This is a historic initiative having no precedent to giving free treatment facility to every citizen.
PM Imran Khan has also laid the foundation stone of mother & child hospital to be completed at a cost Rs5.73 billion in Layyah.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar was addressing a ceremony held in connection with the universal health coverage program and the launch of development schemes in Layyah on Wednesday.
At the outset, the CM said under Naya Punjab basic health unit solarisation program, 36 BHUs are being converted to solar energy in Layyah.
Meanwhile, two development schemes have been inaugurated including Layyah city’s beautification and road infrastructure project costing Rs30 crore and construction of 28 kilometre long roads under Naya Pakistan Manzalain Asaan Program which has been completed with Rs380 million, he said. Similarly, the foundation stone of three projects costing Rs1.5 billion has also been laid.
Rs67 crore will be spent on the dualization of Layyah-Chowk Azam road while Rs590 million is approved for ten development schemes in Layyah, he added.
The CM said Rs40 crore is spent on the repair of farm to market roads adding that Layyah will be brought at par with big cities to remove public deprivations.
The district development package worth Rs13.80 billion has been designed for Layyah to ensure composite development, he added. This includes a mother & child hospital of Rs5.73 billion and 63 development schemes as well.
Currently, 910 development projects are underway with an amount of Rs21 billion, the CM added and announced to elevate Bahauddin Zakariya University Bahadar Campus to the level of a university.
The higher education department has been directed about the University of Layyah Act and Rs300 million will be provided as well.
The CM also announced boys degree college at Amiruddin Wala and six girls colleges estimating Rs75 crore.
Similarly, 367 Layyah schools will be upgraded and six development schemes will be completed with Rs77 crore, he said.
Five health projects will be completed with Rs39 crore and a trauma centre will also be constructed at THQ Chowk Azam.
A dental ward will be built at DHQ hospital Layyah and a children’s ward will be established at THQ Kehrore Pakka, he added. The BHUs of Warrah Saharan and Bhagal will be upgraded, he further said.
The CM announced the establishment of five rescue 1122 centres at Chowk Azam, Fatehpur, Kot Sultan, 82 Morr and Dhori Adda with Rs9.90 crore.
Meanwhile, Rs20 crore will be spent on Layyah city’s beautification schemes and insaf sports fields will be developed in Layyah city, Kehrore Lal Essan, Jumman Shah and Chobara with Rs2.65 crore, he added.
The Layyah jeep rally will be made a sports calendar event to encourage local tourism and Rs3 crore are allocated for the safari, he added.
The CM announced that 200 kilometres long 12 roads development project will be completed with Rs2.72 billion including a 30-kilometre long Layyah-Kehrore road.
The CM said that a 100-megawatt solar power project will soon start working in Chobara, which will cost 3.7 cent per unit, the minimum rate in solar power production.
Along with it, the CM added that south Punjab’s biggest industrial estate will be established in Chobara tehsil.
Meanwhile, CM Usman Buzdar said that the Sindh government’s stance over water distribution is unjustified and any politics over it is beyond national interest because the whole country is facing water scarcity.
The chief minister stressed Punjab is not getting more than its share, adding that Sindh has not served the country by politicizing the issue.
In fact, there was no brouhaha when Sindh was continuously provided water during the sowing of crops, the CM continued. Raising objections by Sindh is improper when crops are being sown in Punjab, he said.
Punjab has all the rights to use its water share according to the prevailing needs, the CM stated.
Meanwhile, MNAs – Abdul Majeed Khan Niazi, Malik Niaz Ahmed Jhakkar, provincial minister Dr Akhtar Malik, SACM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, MPAs – Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Muhammad Tahir Randhawa, Sardar Shahab Uddin, Syed Rafaqat Ali and others called on Chief Minister Usman Buzdar at Circuit House Layyah on Wednesday.
They welcomed the launch of universal health coverage programme from Layyah, saying that it will provide free, quality treatment facilities to the common man.
The CM assured resolution to constituency-related problems. adding that genuine issues will be resolved at all cost and no one will be allowed to create any hurdle in this regard.
Today is an important occasion when a historic step has been taken to facilitate the disfranchised strata, he added.
The universal health coverage programme has started from Layyah and every citizen will be provided with this facility by December.
