The PTI government, led by PM Imran Khan, has launched a universal health insurance program from Layyah on Wednesday as it is commenced from seven districts of DG Khan and Sahiwal divisions to provide free treatment facilities to 48 lac families comprising of more than one crore and 15 lac persons. Every family will be entitled to free treatment up to Rs7.25 lac every year and in addition to this, five days' medicine and the fare will also be given to the patients. This is an avant-garde initiative with no resemblance to giving free treatment facility to every citizen. PM Imran Khan has also laid the foundation stone of mother & child hospital costing Rs5.73 billion in Layyah. This was stated by Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar while addressing the ceremony held in connection with the universal health coverage program and the launch of development schemes in Layyah on Wednesday. At the outset, the CM said under Naya Punjab basic health unit solarisation program, 36 BHUs are being converted to solar energy in Layyah. Meanwhile, two development schemes have been inaugurated including Layyah city’s beautification and road infrastructure project costing Rs30 crore and construction of 28 kilometre long roads under Naya Pakistan Manzalain Asaan Program which has been completed with Rs38.20 crore, he said. Similarly, the foundation stone of three projects costing 1.5 billion has also been laid. Rs67 crore will be spent on the dualization of Layyah-Chowk Azam road while Rs59 crore is approved for ten development schemes in Layyah, he added.
The CM said Rs40 crore is spent on the repair of farm to market roads adding that Layyah will be brought at par with big cities to remove public deprivations. The district development package worth Rs13.80 billion has been designed for Layyah to ensure composite development, he added. This includes a mother & child hospital of Rs5.73 billion and 63 development schemes as well. Currently, 910 development projects are underway with an amount of Rs21 billion, the CM added and announced to elevate Bahauddin Zakariya University Bahadar Campus to the level of a university. The higher education department has been directed about the University of Layyah Act and Rs300 million will be provided as well. The CM also announced boys degree college at Amiruddin Wala and six girls colleges estimating Rs75 crore. Similarly, 367 Layyah schools will be upgraded and six development schemes will be completed with Rs77 crore, he said. Five health projects will be completed with Rs39 crore and a trauma centre will also be constructed at THQ Chowk Azam. A dental ward will be built at DHQ hospital Layyah and a children’s ward will be established at THQ Kehrore Pakka, he added. The BHUs of Warrah Saharan and Bhagal will be upgraded, he further said. The CM announced the establishment of five rescue 1122 centres at Chowk Azam, Fatehpur, Kot Sultan, 82 Morr and Dhori Adda with Rs9.90 crore. Meanwhile, Rs20 crore will be spent on Layyah city's beautification schemes and insaf sports fields will be developed in Layyah city, Kehrore Lal Essan, Jumman Shah and Chobara with Rs2.65 crore, he added. The Layyah jeep rally will be made a sports calendar event to encourage local tourism and Rs3 crore are allocated for the safari, he added. The CM announced that 200 kilometres long 12 roads development project will be completed with Rs2.72 billion including a 30-kilometre long Layyah-Kehrore road. He appealed to the PM to direct NHA for the dualization of the Mianwali-Muzaffargarh road. 204-kilometre long Layyah-Shorkot-Chichawatni road will be built with ADP's assistance and work will be started from next financial year with a cost of Rs29 billion, the CM said. The CM expressed the satisfaction that the PTI government has resumed work on the greater thal canal project lying pending for 13 years and Rs1.5 billion have been transferred to the collector’s account for land acquisition. This will irrigate 17.34 lac acre land in Khushab, Layyah, Bhakkar, Jhang and Muzaffargarh, he said. The 72-kilometre long canal system from Chobara Branch will irrigate 2.94 lac acre land, he added. Meanwhile, arazi centres are being set up at 23 Qanoongoi levels in Layyah. The 20-acre land is earmarked for Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme in Layyah and the balloting process has been completed, he further said.
The CM said a 100-megawatt solar power project will soon start working in Chobara to include 188 million units in the national grid. Its rate will be 3.7 cent per dollar which is minimum in the solar sector, he said. Along with it, the CM added that south Punjab’s biggest industrial estate will be established in Chobara tehsil. He appreciated setting up of south Punjab secretariat adding that the number of departments was being increased. The Foundation stone of the new south Punjab secretariat building has been laid in Multan while the foundation stone of the south Punjab secretariat building will also be laid in Bahawalpur soon. It is important to note that a 33 per cent budget has been provided to south Punjab. South Punjab has started its journey towards development and we will achieve the destination, concluded the CM.