Modern healthcare top priority: Shahbaz

[Naveed Yaseen]

PUNJAB Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that provision of modern health facilities to the people is the top priority of the government and all resources are being utilised to that end.

The CM was presiding over a meeting to review development projects in Tehsil Murree at Murree on Sunday. Advisor to Chief Minister Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Member Punjab Assembly Raja Fayyaz Sarwar, the communication and works secretary, the special health secretary, the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation managing director, Col Amanat of Frontier Works Organization (FWO), Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, the Rawalpindi DCO, the NESPAK Parking Plaza Project Manager, the chief architect and officials were present there.

The CM said that construction of a state-of-the-art hospital in Murree will soon be initiated. He said that completion of projects of improvement of tourist facilities in Murree, repair and construction of roads and parking plaza, carpeting of Jhica Galli Chowk, controlling of land slides, tree plantation and water supply should be ensured as early as possible.

The CM during a briefing on the proposed hospital in Murree, directed that 320 instead of 85 kanal land should be allocated at a central place at Jhika Galli Road for the construction of the hospital complex so as to meet the future needs. He said the hospital would be operated by a trust.

He directed that unnecessary felling of trees should be avoided in the execution of the project. He said that in addition to all specialized departments, kidney transplant and dialysis center should also be set up in the hospital. He directed that modern residences should also be constructed for doctors, paramedical staff and other officials of the hospital. Reviewing the design of the hospital, the CM directed that in order to make the hospital a model project, the construction design and facilities available at hospitals at hill stations abroad should also be kept in view. He said that besides upgrading health centres in the province, the government is also ensuring attendance of doctors and paramedical staff as well as availability of medicines in remote and backward areas. He said that provision of medical facilities to the poor is the priority of the government and the scope of the scheme of provision of free medicines to the patients is being extended to tehsil and district headquarters hospitals. He said that air-conditioners were being installed in hospitals throughout the province at a cost of two billion rupees. The chief architect informed the meeting about the design of the hospital.

The meeting was informed that the construction and repair work of seven roads of TMA in Murree will be completed by August 14 this year.

The CM expressed his dissatisfaction over the work of levelling of edges of the roads and directed that shoulders of roads should be constructed in accordance with the specifications and strong fences should be erected along Murree Road. The meeting also considered construction and repair work of Cart Road in accordance with the recommendations of NESPAK.

He directed that special measures should be taken for controlling landslide at Lower Deual. During a briefing on parking plaza at Jhika Galli, it was informed that the construction of 11 storey parking plaza will help control traffic and parking problems in Murree. The Chief Minister directed to initiate work on this project as early as possible.

It was further informed that land has been transferred for the construction of second parking plaza at Dhobi Ghat. The Rawalpindi commissioner said that prominent firms have been included in the pre-biding for the parking plaza. The commissioner informed the meeting about the pace of work of various projects for the beautification of Murree.

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