Special persons get Sehat cards

LAHORE:Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar distributed Sehat Insaf Cards among the differently-abled persons here on Tuesday.

The CM distributed Sehat Insaf Cards during a ceremony held in connection with the international day of persons with disabilities, here at 90-Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam. Addressing the ceremony, he announced the launch of Sehat Insaf Cards for 30,000 thalassemia patients, adding that 70,000 families of differently-abled persons would be facilitated.

The government was striving for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities so as to make them a useful organ of the society, he added. Usman Buzdar said that the Sehat Insaf Card programme was a flagship initiative of the PTI government, adding that one-third population of the province was being treated in private hospitals through Sehat Insaf Cards. He said more than 450,000 needy persons had benefited from this scheme while more than 118,000 patients had been treated in private hospitals.

He said that the Sehat Card-holders would get treatment facilities in private hospitals and bills would be paid by the government. The special persons would be given the facility of treatment up to Rs 720,000 through Sehat Card and Rs 1000 would be given additionally to special persons as transport expenditures, he added.

Usman Buzdar emphasised that the PTI government believed in the philosophy of sincerity, passion and assistance. He disclosed that Hum-Qadam programme was being started with an amount of Rs 3.5 billion to solve the problems being faced by special persons and their families.

He added that monthly financial support would be provided to 200,000 special persons through this programme while Punjab government was fully committed to implementing two percent job quota for disabled persons.

The chief minister said the Punjab government was employing more than 575 visually impaired persons after a gap of seven years.

Giving detail of different steps being taken by the Punjab government, the chief minister said that four special education institutions were being set up in Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Sargodha and Okara while eight other special education centers were being upgraded from primary to middle and middle to secondary levels.

Meanwhile, 14 new buses were also being provided to special educational institutions, he added. Usman Buzdar maintained that a welfare state was responsible for the well being of every citizen of the society and reiterated that every possible step would be taken for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

Punjab Minister for Special Education Muhammad Akhlaq said that Usman Buzdar was ever active for public welfare and disclosed that special education policy was being launched in Punjab along with setting up the helpline, biometric system and application for differently-abled persons.

He said that 55 buses had been given to special education schools and IT training programme was being started for special children. "Necessary facilities would be ensured in new buildings for special persons", he added.

Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid announced that treatment facilities would be provided to the people living below the poverty line. Special persons and their families were also present at the ceremony.