Amraiz Khan
Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar on Tuesday distributed Sehat Insaf Cards (SIC) among the differently-abled persons and announced the launch of SICs for 30 thousand Thalassemia patients adding that 70 thousand families of differently-abled persons will be facilitated.
He disclosed that hum-qadam programme is being started with an amount of 3.5 billion rupees to help solve the problems being faced by special persons and their families. He added that monthly financial support will be provided to two lac special persons through this programme while Punjab government is fully committed to implementing two percent job quota for disabled persons.
He was addressing a ceremony held in connection with the international day of persons with disabilities at 90-Shara-e-Quaid-e-Azam. The government is striving for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities so as to make them a useful organ of the society, he added.
The sehat insaf card program is a flagship initiative of the PTI government. One-third population of the province is being treated in private hospitals through SICs. More than 4.5 lac needy persons have benefited from this scheme while more than 1.18 lac patients have been treated in private hospitals, he said. The chief minister also announced the launch of sehat insaf sahulat card project for disabled persons.
The sehat card-holders will get treatment facilities in private hospitals and bills will be paid by the government. The special persons will be given the facility of treatment up to Rs.7.20 lac through sehat card and one thousand rupees will be given additionally to special persons as transport expenditures. Usman Buzdar emphasized that the PTI government believes in the philosophy of sincerity, passion and assistance. It is striving for a society that provides complete socio-economic protection to all the segments.
The chief minister informed that Punjab government is employing more than 575 visually impaired persons after a gap of seven years. Giving detail of different steps being taken by the Punjab government, the chief minister said that four special education institutions are being set up in Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Sargodha and Okara while eight other special education centers are being upgraded from primary to middle and middle to secondary levels.
Meanwhile, 14 new buses are also being provided to special education institutions, he added. Usman Buzdar maintained that a welfare state is responsible for the well being of every citizen of the society and reiterated that every possible step will be taken for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. Secretary Special Healthcare & Medical Education also spoke on this occasion. Special persons and their families attended the ceremony.
