Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid met World Bank delegation at the Committee Room of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on Wednesday.
Special Secretary Primary and Secondary healthcare Department Ajmal Bhatti, Regional Director World Bank Lynne Sherburne-Benz, Manager World Bank Christine, Senior Health Specialist Yuk Young Lee, Senior Specialist Suhail Abbasi, Economist World Bank Kevin Gavin and other officials of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department attended the event.
Special Secretary PSH Department Ajmal Bhatti gave a presentation on Punjab Health Services Academy. The minister discussed all joint development programmes and initiatives of Punjab government and the World Bank. The minister also apprised the visiting delegation of the School Health and Nutrition Programme initiated by the government.
“We are looking for enhanced coordination on health initiatives with the World Bank. The Punjab government was laying special emphasis on provision of treatment facilities of international standards in public sector hospitals.
The prime minister was fully committed to improving the healthcare system in Pakistan. ‘Further, we are looking to improve the capacity of our professionals’, the minister said. Dr Yasmin Rashid further said, “Improving the healthcare service delivery in far flung areas is one of key priority area.
This has been a neglected area in the past. We have introduced Sehat Insaf Cards in all 36 districts of Punjab and people below the poverty line are already availing the facility.”
Later, Dr Yasmin Rashid laid the foundation stone of the new block of the girls’ hostel at the Fatima Jinnah Medical University here on Wednesday.
Fatima Jinnah Women University Vice Chancellor Prof Amir Zaman Khan, Registrar Muneeza Qayyum, Professor Naureen Akmal, Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Shirin Khawar President Old Fatima Jinnah Graduate Association Musarrat Suhail Dr. Malika Rana, Shaheen Roohi, faculty members and a large number of staff members participated in the event. The minister laid the foundation stone, and then led the customary prayer. The Minister said, ‘I am extremely delighted to initiate this great project.
This project will cost around Rs 260 million and another 131 students will be able to avail the hostel facilities’. This new block will be six storey building. In order to facilitate the students, we are also constructing an overhead bridge at the facility.’ Dr Yasmin Rashid further said that students coming from other cities face problem residence in Lahore and this project will help facilitate these students.
