ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was informed today that the Prime Minister has approved the proposal to construct over 40 state-of-the-art hospitals to provide better health facilities to the people.

Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Darshan told the House during the question hour that these hospitals will be established in densely populated, deprived or marginalized areas of Sindh, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Dr Darshan said the construction of these hospitals will be completed in phased manner within three years. He pointed out that in the first phase work on 12 hospitals will begin soon. 

To a question, Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani told the House that no corruption case has been registered during the present government in Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation, Pak PWD, Estate Office and Pakistan Housing Authority. He pointed out that the process of inquiries has been accelerated to dispose of the pending corruption cases in these departments.

To another question, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali informed the House that 90 percent land for Diamer-Bhasha Dam has been acquired and construction work on the project will begin next year.

 He pointed out that CPEC electricity generation projects are categorized as Priority and Actively Promoted projects having total capacity of 17045 MW. These electricity projects include Wind, Solar, Hydro and Coal generation. He said efforts are being made to make the Golen Gol Hydropower Project in Chitral functional in July next year.

Replying to a question, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said action against those responsible for electricity theft is being taken without any discrimination and irrespective of any political affiliation.

 Answering a question, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Darshan said the Ministry is in the process of conducting a large scale National Nutrition Survey next year to find out the latest situation and the impact of different interventions carried out during the past few years and future planning. It will be completed by mid of 2018.

 To another question, he said Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan in coordination with provincial governments has launched campaign against the manufacturers and importers of the unregistered medicines throughout the country.

He said hundreds of cases have been registered against the defaulters.

Dr Darshan made it clear that no excessive and harmful expensive registered drug is being sold in the country.