LAHORE Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the Badian Road Elite Police Training School on Wednesday. The CM chaired the meeting of Punjab Security Council and addressed officers at Civil Secretariat and offices of divisional commissioners through a video link. Steps regarding implementation of National Action Plan against terrorism, security arrangements and overall law & order in the province were reviewed in the meeting. The CM directed that all possible steps should be taken for effective implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism. The meeting gave an approval for setting up vigilance committees at union council level in Punjab whereas vigilance committees will also be constituted at district level. The vigilance committees will work at local level with regard to National Action Plan against terrorism and will discharge responsibilities with regard to ensuring a ban on graffiti, checking misuse of load speakers, distribution and publication of literature based on religious hatred and objectionable material at local level. Shahbaz Sharif directed that local personalities of good repute should be included in these committees. He said the process of effective monitoring of security plan evolved for public and private schools should continue. He directed regular monitoring of security arrangements in colleges and universities should also continue. The meeting decided to recruit ex-army men for security of A-category schools. The CM directed the officials concerned that process of recruitment should be based on transparency and merit in accordance with the policy of the Punjab government. He said no compromise will be made on security arrangements of educational institutions. Health reforms: Shahbaz Sharif has said that maximum resources will continue to be provided for the provision of modern health facilities to the people as reforms in health sector and ensuring best healthcare facilities to the citizens is the mission of the government. Punjab Health Reforms Roadmap is of vital importance for providing quality health facilities to the masses and it is the need of the hour to make this programme successful through hard work and commitment. A target has been fixed for provision of modern health facilities to the people in basic health centres whereas target has also been set to extend medical facilities to the patients round the clock in 700 basic health centres till May 2015. Presiding over a high-level meeting regarding Punjab Health Reforms Roadmap, here, Wednesday, the chief minister said provision of the best treatment facilities and quality medicines to the people at basic health centres was the government priority. An effective system of checks and balances has been evolved for the implementation of Health Reforms Roadmap. He directed that effective implementation of Punjab Health Reforms Roadmap be ensured at any cost while no effort be spared for the provision of quality health facilities at basic health centres. He directed that recruitment of medical officers against approved vacancies on merit and transparency be ensured. Action should be taken under rules and regulations against absent staff of basic health centres. He issued orders for the posting of EDO Health Chakwal as OSD for his poor performance towards Punjab Health Reforms Roadmap and said that only efficient officers would remain on their posts. He directed that a system of tenure posting in Education, Health and Home Departments be evolved and recommendations be submitted within seven days while the vacant posts of EDO Health in two districts should immediately be filled. He said the departments concerned would have to realise their responsibilities in this regard. He directed that performance of Punjab Rural Support Programme be improved for the provision of medical facilities in the rural areas. He expressed his satisfaction over the appreciation of the efficiency of Punjab government by DFID team regarding the steps taken for the improvement of public health facilities and said a lot was still to be done. Special representative of British Department for International Development (DFID) Sir Michael Barber said that encouraging results were being witnessed in health sector under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and public health facilities were improving in the province. The DFID team also appreciated the steps taken by the Punjab government for the coverage of immunisation programme of children.
