LAHORE - Punjab government has decided to increase the salary package of the doctors from July 1, while recommendations for the increased salary package will be finalised by the mid of May. This assurance came in the result of a meeting between Secretary Health Punjab Fawad Hassan Fawad with Young Doctors Associations 12-member delegation late on Saturday. However, the young doctors would continue their strike at outdoor patient wards till the implementation of the decision. Dr Nasir Abbas led the YDA team, which met with Secretary Health at Lahore General Hospital. Principal PGMI/ LGH Professor Tariq Salahuddin, Prof Haider, Prof Rubina Sohail, Prof Agha Shabbir, Profesor Shoaib Randhawa and MS LGH Dr. Zafar Ikram were also present in the meeting. Dr Nasir Abbas demanded that this assurance should be given to them in black and white so that they could convince their colleagues in general bodys meeting. Fawad directed that the principal LGH to circulate the minutes of the meeting among the stake holders for this purpose. On this occasion, Professor Tariq Salahuddin asked the young doctors to end their strike in OPDs after the assurance from the provincial government to increase in their salaries. He proposed that few YDA representatives should be included in the team for preparing documents of salary package. Secretary Health said that YDA representatives could assist Health Department in preparation of summary, which would be sent to Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif for approval. Secretary Health also asked the young doctors to call off their strike, saying the government would fulfil its promise of revision of salary of doctor. He also said that chief minister would made formal announcement of the revise salary package of the young doctors. 'Punjab govt not serious in doctors issue: Punjab government is not serious in solving the problems of young doctors and is pondering over political rifts and has no strategy to get the ongoing strike of the doctors ended. This was discussed in the general body meeting of Patient Welfare Council as the president of the Council Sheikh Mazhar Shafi overviewed and discussed the problems of patients being faced by them since last 20 days owing to the strike of Young Doctors Association. As the meeting discussed that government should take back the show cause issued to the contract bases doctors and those working without salaries. The president appealed to the young doctors that they should show sympathy and mercy for the patients by ending their indoor and outdoor strike as different politicians are involved in such a crisis otherwise civil society and patients protection council would also be out against such cruel strike. He said that first such strike in favour of patients would be done on March 21.