‘Health dept to work with CPEC Authority’

LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid Health Department would closely work with the CPEC Authority on the projects related to heath facilities.

According to a handout, the minister met with CPEC Authority Chairman Lt-Gen (Retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa on Friday. Let-Gen (Retd) Asim Bajwa proposed establishment of a mother and child hospital and a nursing college along the route of CPEC in Punjab.

The minister said the department would work closely with the CPEC Authority especially on the projects in the cities around the CPEC routes in Punjab. She nominated Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Special Secretary Ajmal Bhatti as the focal person for coordination with the CPEC Authority.

“Punjab is laying special emphasis on mother and child health facilities. We have aligned our projects with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and we are developing state-of-the-art mother and child hospitals in Attock, Layyah, Mianwali, Bahawalnagar and Rajanpur. We plan to develop nursing colleges with these hospitals. South Punjab is under special focus as development indicators require serious work in these districts,” Dr Yasmin Rashid said. The minister said the number of beds was being increased in the burn centres in the province.