LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday approved purchasing of ultrasound machines for all basic health centres in the province.

The machines would be operated by lady health visitors after proper training. The chief minister gave the approval while presiding over a meeting to overview programmes related to the provision of modern and quality medical facilities to people.

He said the provision of ultrasound machines would improve medical facilities at the health centres. A 24-hour ultrasound facility must be provided at these units for which he would look into the appointment of new lady health visitors, he added.

He ordered a framework for increasing grants-in-aid for private hospitals, and establishment of a committee for preparing final recommendations in this regard so as to ensure delivery of quality medical services to patients.

The CM said the provincial government had decided to extend scope of the health insurance programme to the entire province, and ordered extension in the TB Prevention and Control Programme.

Meanwhile, a high-level Turkish Health Ministry delegation called on the chief minister under its Managing Director for International Health Policies Selami Kilic.

The delegates said the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital in Muzaffargarh was a gift for the people of south Punjab and quality medical facilities were being provided there. “Pakistan is our second home and for improvement in the health sector our team is collaborating with the Punjab government,” they added.

Later, Shahbaz expressed grief over the death of a four-year-old girl due to stray kite string in Quaid-i-Azam Colony, Chakri Road, Rawalpindi. He ordered suspension of Saddar Beroni SHO Khalil Bhatti.

Also on Sunday, Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also called on Chief Minister Sharif and exchanged views on the progress of different development projects particularly relating to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The chief minister said CPEC had laid the foundation of Pakistan’s fast-track progress and development. The project was a game-changer and, once completed, it would change the destiny of the entire region.

He said the Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant project was being completed on fast-track basis, adding the 1,320-megawatt project would be completed before the designated time period of December.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017