MPAs offer uplift funds to improve health facilities in Mardan

PESHAWAR: The Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) hailing from Mardan have unanimously asked the government to give their development funds to the Health Department to improve health facilities in the coronavirus-affected district.

Former senior minister Muhammad Atif Khan convened the All-Parties Conference (APC) to discuss the growing threat of coronavirus and rising unrest among the dwellers of Mardan. The central and provincial leaders of various political parties and representatives of the civil society organisations discussed the prevailing situation in the district.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Zahir Shah Toru hosted the APC that unanimously demanded allocation of MPAs’ funds to Health Department. The moot also sought the establishment of a laboratory in Mardan to conduct tests for coronavirus, and the provision of a special relief package for the affected people from Manga village, where one Sadaat Khan was the first casualty of the deadly coronavirus. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan, provincial Minister for Health Taimur Jhagra, MNA Mujahid Khan, MPAs Muhammad Atif Khan, Tufail Anjum, Zahir Shah Toru, Awami National Party (ANP) district president Latifur Rahman, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) General Secretary Maulana Amanat Shah, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s Rahimdad Khan, Amn Jirga President Syed Kamal Shah, Al-Khidmat Foundation President Farhan Ali Advocate, MPAs Sajid Hanif, Shahida Waheed, Youth Parliament Chairman Irshad Ahmad, Tanzeem Tajiran General Secretary Ihsan Badshah, Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry former president Zahir Shah, Mardan Medical Complex Director Dr Mukhtiar and journalist Musarrat Aasi addressed the moot.The speakers asked the government to provide required facilities to the medical staff fighting coronavirus in the government hospitals. The participants demanded due share for Mardan in all the relief packages received from abroad. The speakers reiterated the commitment to play a key role in the relief activities irrespective of their political affiliation. They asked the govt to write off utility bills of the people. The moot eulogised services of all those fighting coronavirus including medical staff, police, administration, army and others, saying their services would be remembered forever.