LAHORE - Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said a substantial improvement can be achieved in information technology, agriculture, livestock, solar energy and infrastructure sectors in Punjab by benefiting from the economic cooperation of China. He said that China can also help in the development of solar panels for domestic use to overcome energy crisis.
The CM said this while talking to a high-level delegation of Chinese investors led by Chairperson Shenzhen Chamber of E-Commerce Jennifer Tong at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, here Wednesday.
Lahore Transport Company Chairman Kh Ahmad Hassaan, Secretary Mines & Minerals, Secretary Energy, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board, Vice-Chairman Punjab Investment Board and senior officers were present. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Punjab Investment Board and Shenzhen Chamber of E-Commerce for the promotion of e-commerce.
Talking to the delegation, Shahbaz said that Pakistan and China are trusted friends of each other and their sincere friendship is the guarantee to a durable peace and stability in South Asia. He said that Pakistan can overcome its energy crisis by benefiting from Chinese solar technology.
He said that there are attractive investment opportunities for Chinese investors in bus rapid transit system, solid waste management, information technology and other sectors. He said that 42 projects have been started with the collaboration of international companies associated with computer industry for the achievement of the targets of good governance in Punjab. He welcomed the offer of Chinese cooperation in e-commerce sector and said that e-commerce is an emerging sector in the world which has the potential of vast economic benefits.
Jennifer Tong appreciated the reforms introduced by the CM in IT sector. She said that e-commerce is a new model of trade and economic activities in Punjab can be promoted through benefiting from Chinese expertise and skills.
PIC PERFORMANCE: The administration of Punjab Institute of Cardiology has provided one month’s free medicines to over 123900 patients in April 2012. During this period, 653 cardiac surgeries have been conducted. Out of these 419 were free while 166 paid patients.
Giving briefing about one month’s performance of the institution, Medical Superintendent PIC Dr Muhammad Javed said that 35776 new patients have been registered in one month and out of them 30449 were poor (85 per cent). He further informed that a total of 8722 echocardiography tests were performed out of which 6497 were performed free of cost (74.5 per cent). Similarly, during the month of April, 15482 X-rays were carried out of which 10972 were free. He further said that 1657 Exercise Tolerance Tests (ETT) were performed out of which 1060 were free. Moreover, 4919 angiography / angioplasty have also been carried out which 2507 were carried out free of cost. He further told that during that period, 594 CT angiography tests have also been performed and out of these only 95 were paid patients.
He said that majority of the patients coming to the PIC belong to poor and lower middle class and the administration was providing all necessary diagnostic and treatment facilities free of cost. PIC is also extending free of cost treatment and diagnostic facilities to the government servants as well as lawyers’ community, he added.
YDA: Young Doctors Association has alleged that 250 house officers in the province were being forced to work without pay as finance department was not forwarding case of increase in seats for the couple of months.
YDA office bearers have appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to direct the Finance Secretary to resolve the matter so that the doctors could get salaries. They said that according to PMDC the Punjab government was bound to provide 100 per cent paid house job to the medical graduates. They said that the government had increased 950 seats at medical colleges and now it needed to increase seats at hospitals.
PSYCHO-EDUCATION PROGRAMME: Fountain House started a special “Psycho-education Program (PEP)” in collaboration with World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation WAPR for general public, people suffering from mental illnesses, problems, their care givers, mental health professionals and students at Fountain House Lahore, which will be conducted on every first Wednesday of the month.
Mian Farrukh Hussain, Consultant Psychiatrist from UK, gave an exclusive work shop on “coping with crisis” to the families of members (patients), Members, staff members, mental health professionals, students and volunteers.
During question answer session with the affected families, he described in detail the coping techniques, He appreciated the great services of the institute in the field of Mental Health and hailed the leadership of Dr. Amjad Saqib Chairman Steering Committee, Dr. Umair Rashid Chaudhry member steering Committee, Ghias ud din member steering committee and promised his great support to FH.
Prof. Usman Rashid Chaudhry Honorary Director Rehabilitation, Dr. Syed Imran Murtaza Medical
LAHORE – Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab for Health Kh Salman Rafiq has directed the concerned departments to make indoor vector surveillance activities more effective to control dengue.
Chairing a cabinet committee meeting to review implementation of measures taken by various departments for dengue prevention and control here Wednesday, he asked the concerned departments to pay special attention on vector surveillance and larviciding during rainy season in particular.
Besides members of Punjab Assembly from Lahore, Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, Commissioner Lahore, DCO Lahore and other senior officers attended the meeting.
The officers of Health Department, Information and Culture, Higher Education, School Education, Fisheries Department, Auqaf, Labour, Local Government, Cooperative, food department, Punjab Information Technology Board, Punjab Institute of Blood Transfusion, Institute of public health, Special Branch and Dengue Experts Advisory Group briefed the meeting in connection with the vector surveillance, larviciding, public awareness campaign, registration of volunteers, inspection / registration of tyre shops, arrangements for treatment of dengue patients, training of doctors / paramedics of private sector hospitals. Officers of WASA and LWMC apprised the meeting of cleanliness of different areas of the city, disposal of garbage and water draining activities.
Kh Salman Rafiq observed that dengue larva was being reported from inside the houses in water containers. He urged the citizens not to stock water in open containers to prevent dengue breeding. He said that people should drain out water from the roofs of their houses and remove old tyres, shoppers, plastic bottles and other wastes so as dengue breeding could be checked. He directed the concerned departments to focus on vector surveillance and larviciding during rainy season. He said that de-silting of sewerage lines and drains must be completed before the start of Monsoon. He observed that dengue was a big social issue which could only be redressed through full community participation, for which public awareness was inevitable. Therefore, a vigorous publicity and awareness campaign should be continued.