Punjab, WHO to collaborate to improve healthcare

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday met WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy. They agreed to collaborate for the provision of better health facilities in the province.

Dr Balkhy congratulated Maryam on being elected as the first woman chief minister of Punjab. Maryam felicitated Dr Balkhy on assuming the office of WHO regional director. The CM lauded the services of Dr Balkhy rendered in the health sector, especially with regard to controlling infection among people. She said: ‘’The Punjab government will provide cooperation to the WHO to ensure prevention from diseases and their treatment. Bringing reforms in the health sector is our foremost priority. As many as 32 field hospitals have been functionalized for rural people in the province and we will accomplish our target to establish state-of-the-art hospitals in every district in the next five years.”

Dr Balkhy said that undertaking timely measures were highly essential to save people inhabiting far-flung areas from infectious diseases. The WHO would provide assistance for the provision of timely health facilities in case of an arising natural calamity emergency situation.

World Press Freedom Day: “Media plays a pivotal role in awakening the collective consciousness of society,” said Maryam Nawaz in her message on the World Press Freedom Day. She added: “A sense of responsibility for press freedom is very much crucial to bring positive change. Freedom of expression is essential for transparency, thriving democracy and well-informed people. The Punjab government is taking all possible measures for the welfare of journalism and journalists. I pay tribute to every journalist who raised the banner of independent thinking in the era of dictatorship. Tribute is also due to all hardworking journalists who report abuse in their society with responsibly. I salute the first journalist of the subcontinent, Maulvi Muhammad Baqir, who was martyred for the freedom of expression.

Maryam Nawaz regretted the loss of precious human lives in a Chilas traffic accident.

“Enemies of freedom of press will never succeed in their goals,” said Maryam while condemning a bomb blast in Khuzdar, in which the Khuzdar Press Club president lost his life.