Law and order ‘being maintained’ in Punjab

LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has affirmed that peace and order are being maintained throughout the province.

Chairing the 5th meeting of the Sub-Cabinet Committee on Law and Order on Friday, on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the health minister emphasised the ongoing actions against drug dealers, kite-making factories, and electricity thieves. During the meeting, which was held at the Interior Department on Friday, the committee approved the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe various incidents.

Additionally, 10 prisoners were granted parole, and resources were allocated to the Lahore and Rawalpindi administrations in preparation for the New Zealand cricket series. The health minister conducted a thorough review of the province’s law and order situation, including security arrangements for Eid-ul-Azha. Briefings were given by relevant officers, commissioners, and Regional Police Officers (RPOs).

Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal, Special Secretary Home, IG Prisons Mian Farooq Nazir, Additional IG Zulfikar Hameed, DIG Operations Lahore, along with all commissioners and RPOs, participated in the meeting via a video link conference.

Shortage of life-saving medicines won’t be tolerated

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir has said that the shortage of life-saving medicines will not be tolerated in any case. The black sheep involved in the shortage of medicines will not be spared as per Punjab Chief Minister’s instructions. He expressed these views during a call-on with representatives of drug distributors on Friday.

The minister appealed to the drug distributors to support the government in exposing the elements involved in life-saving drug hoarding and shortage. He informed that a Distributors Inventory Management System (DMIS) has been developed which will make the drug supply process transparent and ensure its uninterrupted supply. He said that citizens had fundamental right to have uninterrupted access to medicines.

The provincial minister assured that the demands of drug distributors would be sympathetically considered and the local pharma industry will be fully supported for the manufacturing of medicines in the country.

The drug distributors, on the occasion, apprised the health minister of their apprehensions about the newly developed DMIS and submitted some demands in this regard, upon which, the minister directed Drug Control Wing to constitute a technical committee comprising three representatives of drug distributors so that their issues could be resolved amicably.

Director General Drug Control M Sohail, Additional Secy Dr Qalandar, Chief Drug Control Azhar Jamal Salimi, Secretary PQCB Dr M Hayat and others were present on this occasion.