Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Information and Spokesperson to the Punjab Government Hasaan Khawar has said that mental illness is the biggest problem being faced by the modern world.
There are currently around 40-50 crore people worldwide, and some 1.5 crore in Pakistan are suffering from mental illnesses. There has been a significant increase in mental illnesses, especially during the Corona epidemic, he stated.
He stated lack of awareness and trained psychiatrists, and social stigma associated with these illnesses as the hindrances prohibiting proper redressal of mental illnesses.
These views were expressed by Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab Hasaan Khawar while attending the Annual Sports Week 2022’ at Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) Lahore as a chief guest. Secretary Specialized Healthcare Ahmed Javed Qazi was also present on the occasion.
At the Annual Sports Week, the residents, doctors and staff of the PIMH participated in various sports, including ‘chaati’ race, musical chairs and tug-of-war. On this occasion, Hasaan Khawar said that mental illnesses are treatable but a lot still needs to be done in this regard.
Responding to questions from media persons on the occasion, Hasaan Khawar said that the revolution in the health sector has been the hallmark of the government through initiatives like health card program and construction of new hospitals. Now Prime Minister Imran Khan will cure the political diseases of the country as well, he maintained.
He further said that in the past opposition parties had set up a political theater for decades. When Prime Minister Imran Khan exposed them, it became apparent that all these parties are part of the same script and drama.
Responding to a question, he said that Opposition need not play with the sentiments of the people nor consider the public mandate as a waste.
