LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that we have to think beyond personal interests for country’s development and prosperity.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Saleem Memorial Trust Hospital in Lahore, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has praised generous philanthropists on setting up a modernly equipped world class hospital in the private sector in Lahore, which will also provide free of cost medical treatment to poor and deserving people as well.
The Prime Minister was briefed by the hospital’s management about the facilities available at the hospital, including treatment facilities for cancer, heart diseases and dialysis and CT Scan. He went to the various departments of the hospital.
Saleem Memorial Trust Hospital will provide world class medical treatment facilities to the poor and needy.
The prime minister praised the owners of the Trust and expressed the hope that the hospital would serve the ailing humanity with world-class treatment facilities.
He said the managers of the Trust would not only earn the prayers of the patients, but also earn blessings in the world hereafter. The prime minister expressed the confidence that the experienced hands in the hospital would run the facility efficiently.
The prime minister said they had set up PKLI hospital in Lahore on this model to serve the masses with latest treatment facilities and wanted it to function like John Hopkins health facility. Hepatitis filter centers across Punjab province were set up under its patronage and patients from all over the country came for treatment, he added.
He regretted that dirty politics were played during the rule of the last government. The PML-N government was changed and what happened during the last four years was a painful story, he said, adding that the national wealth belonged to the people.
The prime minister referring to the economic constraints said that the government was hardly meeting its expenses. He said 1122 was an initiative of Pervaiz Elhai but he had expanded it throughout the province.
The prime minister urged the philanthropists to come forward and execute such public welfare projects across the country.
Earlier, Chairman Trust Shehzad Saleem gave an overview of the project.The prime minister visited different sections of the hospital and was briefed about the provision of treatment facilities including oncology, cardiology and OPD.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to take emergency measures in view of the destruction caused by a glacial lake outburst flood from the Shisper glacier in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He instructed to save lives and properties of the people and their shifting to safer places.
The Prime Minister also ordered to provide food, medicines, and the required emergency equipment to the affected areas. He directed federal government institutions to extend every possible assistance and cooperation to the government of Gilgit-Baltistan. He also sought report about the losses and the affected people.
Shehbaz Sharif advised to prepare an alternative road due to destruction of the Hassanabad bridge on the Karakoram Highway. He also advised to prepare estimate regarding destruction of irrigation and drinking water system as well as two affected power houses.
The Prime Minister ordered immediate restoration of 700MW and 250MW powerhouses on war footing and said that its expenditures would be borne away by the federal government.
He said the Federal Government will bear the expenditure to be incurred on the restoration and maintenance of these power houses. Besides, he sought report on the damage inflicted on Karakoram Highway.
The Prime Minister assured that the government will take all possible measures to provide emergency assistance to the affected people and their restoration. He also expressed sympathy and sorrow with the affected people over the losses.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the government is diligently working on the execution of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Reko Diq projects.
The premier stated this while talking to a delegation of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) in Lahore on Sunday. He reiterated his government’s resolve to religiously follow the CPEC and Reko Diq projects till their completion.
He said as far as our foreign policy was concerned, the government wanted to establish relations with all countries including brotherly Muslim states based on respect and mutual interests.
He expressed his resolve that the government wanted free and transparent elections in the country stressing the need to introduce electoral reforms. He observed that electoral reforms were a must for holding of transparent elections in the country.
The previous government had doubled the country’s debt during the last four years rule which had made the lives of poor miserable, he said, adding that they were making efforts to provide basic necessities of life including flour, health treatment and medicines at subsidized rates.
He regretted that during the previous government’s rule, special arrangements were not made at PKIL like facilities for giving free-of-cost treatment to the poor and deserving patients.
The prime minister stressed upon the solidarity of the nation to resolve the current economic challenges for the welfare of the people and said that holding of march, in this situation, amounted to uncalled for and creation of fissures among the nation.
The prime minister also expressed his resolve to effectively work over the CPEC and Riko Diq projects.
He also reaffirmed to maintain ties with all the brotherly nations and other countries on basis of mutual respect and mutual interests.
The premier also informed the CPNE delegation that the government did not have any intention to restrict freedom of press. He assured the editors that journalists would be defended against all the anti-press laws including Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Ordinance.
He told the delegation that his government had already entrusted the task to review the draconian PECA Ordinance to its law ministry.
Praising the CPNE role for the freedom of media, strengthening of democracy, and evolution of democratic institutions in the country, the prime minister said that the government was keen to engage constructively with the CPNE and other media representative bodies for the protection of the rights of journalists and promotion of responsible journalism in the country
Shehbaz vowed to work with the CPNE for the promotion of journalistic responsibilities and security of journalists in the country
On power generation, he vowed that his government would ensure production of electricity and its transmission to consumers in an effective way.
He lamented that the previous government had put unbearable burden of foreign debts on poor people of Pakistan and made essential commodities out of the reach of poor people. He said his government was taking steps to ameliorate the lot of the downtrodden segment of society.
He called upon the nation to show solidarity so that we could be able to fix the tattered economy.
The meeting was attended by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Secretary Information Shaheera Shahi, and Principal Information Officer Mubashir Hassan.
The CPNE delegation comprised of its President Kazim Khan, Senior Vice President Ayaz Khan, Punjab Vice President Arshad Ahmad Arif, Secretary General Amir Mehmood and other CPNE office-bearers.
Meanwhile, the International Mothers’ Day is being marked across the world today to celebrate motherhood and honour mothers.
Greeting mothers, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message, said there is no one more sincere than a mother, who is a place of solace in every pain. He said Allah Almighty introduced Himself through mother and placed the paradise beneath her feet.
He said serving the mother is in fact a testimony to the character of a human being. Let’s make our world and thereafter better by serving mothers.
Shehbaz Sharif said mother’s love, encouragement, and prays always play a vital role behind the success of every individual including him.
He said we also salute the mothers of Palestine and the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, whose sons were martyred. On this day, we salute the mothers of our martyrs, who laid their lives for the honor and dignity of the motherland. We present tribute to great mothers like Dr Ruth Pfau, who led a fight against leprosy for 55 years.
The Prime Minister also paid rich tribute to Bilquis Edhi for playing a role of the mother of the entire society. He prayed the Almighty Allah to keep the souls of all mothers, including his own one, in heaven.
He said it was his mother, who had taught us Islam, Quran, humility, love for the Prophet (SAAW) and Pakistan as well as courage to face difficulties.
Shehbaz Sharif said whatever he is today is due to the prayers and training of his brave father and devout mother. He urged the people to serve their mothers because this relationship is an intimate and great connection. – NNI
