Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier today launched the state-run National Health Programme (NHP) benefiting about 76,000 families in at least four districts of Balochistan.
Underprivileged residents of Quetta, Kech, Loralai and Lasbela will benefit from the government-funded programme.
Salient features of the PM’s National Health Programme
- Treatment for underprivileged at both public and private hospitals without delay
- Rs50,000 on PM’s cards for treatment of common illnesses
- Rs300,000 set aside for treatment of serious medical conditions
- Limit can be extended to Rs600,000 if funds run out during treatment at hospital
- Toll-free number set up for registering patients’ complaints
Speaking at the NHP launch at Governor House, he said the programme would help eradicate various diseases from the province and protect people from fatal diseases.
“I am personally monitoring this programme,” he said.
‘Imran will have to be patient even after 2018’
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, referring to the constitution of a judicial commission to probe revelations made by the Panama Papers, said he was ready for accountability.
Taking the opportunity to launch a verbal attack on his opponents, Nawaz, without naming Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan, said: “You will not only have to be patient until 2018, you will have to be patient even after the 2018 elections,” hinting at a win for his himself and his party in the next general election.
The jibe comes just a day after Imran at a rally in Lahore said that Nawaz, if proven guilty, won’t go home but will be sent to jail.
Nawaz said that turmoil and sit-ins were damaging to the ongoing process of development in the country. “Political culture has to change,” he said, adding that eradication of corruption was a top priority of the government.
“We have not taken kick-backs and indulged in corruption during government”, the PM said.
PM inaugurates development projects
The premier inaugurated several development projects, including a 220KV transmission line from Dera Ghazi Khan to Loralai and a gas project for Qilla Abdullah and different parts of Mastung, Kalat and Khuzdar.
The prime minister also performed the groundbreaking of seven projects, including three for the infrastructural development of Quetta.
Nawaz at the NHP launch said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would open new vistas of development and prosperity in the country and region, and that Balochistan would be a major beneficiary of the mega project.
Nawaz was accompanied by Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and other prominent government officials during the inauguration ceremony.
The prime minister will be briefed about the law and order situation in the province and development projects which are a part of the CPEC at Governor House.
In preparation of the premier’s visit, security was tightened in and around Quetta, with shops closed down and Police and Frontier Corps personnel deployed in the city. Roads leading to Governor House and Chief Minister House were closed for traffic.
Closure of roads resulted in severe traffic jams in various parts of Quetta. The premier’s plane landed at Quetta airport, from where he flew in a helicopter to Khalid airbase in Quetta’s Cantonment area. Nawaz, who was received by prominent government officials, then travelled by road with protocol to Governor House.
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