Punjab to build Bone Marrow Transplant Institute: CM

LAHORE
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting, here on Tuesday, which reviewed the proposed project of setting up of Blood Diseases & Bone Marrow Transplant Institute, Lahore. Prof Tahir Shamsi of National Institute for Blood Diseases & Bone Marrow Transplant Karachi gave a briefing to the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said there was a dire need for setting up an institute of blood diseases and bone marrow transplant in Punjab and a comprehensive plan should be presented to him in this regard. He said the institute should be state-of-the-art and of international standard and the project should also include nursing centre, centre for training of staff and research. He said that establishment of institute would result in availability of bone marrow transplant to the patients.
Shahbaz Sharif said that development of health sector and provision of modern treatment facilities was the top priority of the government and revolutionary steps were being taken for the uplift of health sector. He said the government was spending billions of rupees on the provision of healthcare facilities to the citizens and setting up of hospitals. He said that state-of-the-art liver and transplant institute was being set up in the provincial metropolis for the benefit of kidney and liver patients.
He said the project of Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute & Research Centre was being implemented speedily. He said that besides establishment of health institutions, development of human resource was of vital importance and due attention was being paid to this direction.
Tree Plantation: Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting, here on Tuesday, which reviewed the steps for the promotion of tree plantation and horticulture in big cities of Punjab including Lahore.
The chief minister also gave approval to the pilot project of plying buses especially manufactured for the promotion of tourism in Lahore. These double-decker buses will be plied from Gaddafi Stadium to Food Street.
Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that promotion of tree plantation and horticulture for beautification of cities was the need of the hour and modern model of the world should be benefited for this purpose.
He directed that PHA should also set up its own nursery and attention should be paid to the promotion of horticulture and tree plantation. He directed to immediately evolve a plan for tree plantation and horticulture on roads of Lahore and modern technology should be benefited. He said that PHA should evolve a comprehensive plan and present in this regard.
He said that legislation should also be made for the protection of trees and a model of pot tree plantation should also be evolved.
water: Shahbaz Sharif has ordered immediatae disposal of water from low-lying areas accumulated due to heavy rains in Lahore and other cities of the province. He said that all-out resources should be utilised for drainage of water from low-lying areas. He directed the senior officials of administration and the departments concerned to personally monitor the disposal of water. He said that immediate steps should also be taken for smooth flow of traffic and officials of traffic police should remain in field for this purpose.
Saaf Pani: Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting which reviewed matters regarding progress of Saaf Pani Project.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that access to potable water was the right of every citizen and the Punjab government would ensure this right through Saaf Pani Project. He directed that this project worth billions of rupees should be completed expeditiously while a high standard should also be maintained. He said that water filtration plants would be set up in rural areas under Saaf Pani Project whereas installation of water filtration plants in 80 places in district Bahawalpur had already been started.
He said a dashboard had been developed for reviewing implementation of the project while Saaf Pani organisations constituted at local level would monitor implementation of the project. He said Saaf Pani Project was a splendid programme for the people who could not afford mineral water and completion of this project would also help in controlling diseases caused by polluted water.
He directed that the project of rehabilitation of non-functional water schemes be presented within four weeks. He said that besides Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Programme, Saaf Pani Project was of vital importance for the people living in villages; therefore, this project should be implemented within the timeline. He said that third party audit would be compulsory at every phase of the project and he would personally monitor the pace of its implementation on regular basis. Chief Executive Officer Saaf Pani Company briefed the meeting regarding the pace of the project.
rivers: Shahbaz Sharif has directed Cabinet Committee on Flood that in view of recent rains, the flow of water in rivers should be monitored round-the-clock and all necessary measures should be adopted. He said that protective measures should be completed in advance to cope with the threat of possible flood. He directed that provincial ministers and secretaries should supervise safety arrangements in their allotted districts and in case of threat of flood, immediate evacuation of local population should be ensured. He issued instructions for utilisation of all-out resources for the disposal of rainwater from low-lying areas. He said that administration and institutions concerned should work in an active manner in this regard.
NOTICE
Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the incident of looting of passenger buses near Kotli Satian, Rawalpindi and sought a report from CPO Rawalpindi. He directed the authorities concerned that the culprits involved in the incidents should immediately be arrested and action under the law should be taken. He directed the IG Punjab to take solid measures for curbing such incidents.