Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has given in-principle approval to taking various measures including up-gradation of the nursing service structure while presiding over a high-level meeting. It is decided to streamline promotion criterion of the nurses. The meeting also approved awarding MPhil and PhD scholarships to the nursing sector.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that nursing schools will be given the status of colleges, along with the provision of hostel facility, so that residential problems of the nurses could be resolved on permanent basis. He said that nurses would be sent abroad on scholarships and necessary measures will be taken to ensure the betterment of the nursing sector. The chief minister will soon announce a mega package for the nurses.
Usman Buzdar said that the Punjab government has introduced revolutionary reforms in the health sector and more than 5 million “Sehat Insaf Cards” have been distributed among the deserving people. Its scope will further be extended gradually, he said. The CM directed that a comprehensive campaign should be launched for creating awareness among the beneficiaries of Sehat Insaf Cards besides examining to include social security hospitals in the panel. The Punjab Health Initiative Management Company’s board should immediately be completed, he added.
Usman Buzdar, while directing to prepare a business plan for Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute, said that the health department, with the consultation of concerned authorities, should present final recommendations so that decisions could be taken for the effective working of the institution.
Secretary Specialized Health and Medical Education gave a briefing regarding proposed measures for the betterment of nursing cadres, Sehat Insaf Cards and Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute. The chief minister was briefed that 62 kidneys and seven livers have been transplanted so far in PKLI.
Provincial Ministers – Dr Yasmin Rashid, Hashim Jawan Bakht, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretary Finance, Secretary Information, Dean PKLI and others attended the meeting.
ORDINANCE TO PROTECT SUGARCANE FARMERS RIGHTS
On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, the provincial government has issued gazette notification of The Sugar Factories (Control) Amendment Ordinance, 2020.
In this regard, the CM has stated the protection of sugarcane farmers’ rights has been ensured through the amended ordinance as up to three years imprisonment or a maximum of 5 million rupees fine could be imposed for violation of the ordinance.
A high level meeting was held under the chair of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at CM office. On the directives the chief minister, the provincial government has taken a major step for the promotion of investment of billions of rupees in the province by making issuance of NOC of different departments easy for setting up of Cement factories.
Punjab Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Chief Secretary, Secretaries Local Government, heads of Irrigation, Industry, Minerals, Environment, Special Monitoring Unit and officials concerned were present on the occasion.