ISLAMABAD, (INP): The National Assembly was informed Thursday that the government is working to expand Prime Minister’s National Health Programme in focused districts of the country.
Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar told the House in a written reply that Rs 8.18 billion have been allocated for the programme.
She said as of 6th of this month, a total of 981,007 families have been enrolled in Prime Minister’s National Health Programme. Out of these enrolled families a total of 15,681 individuals have been admitted in different hospitals for indoor medical treatment. She said that the programme is targeting 3.06 million families living below poverty line in its focused districts.
Answering a question regarding new growing diseases, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Darshan told the House that Chikungunya has been diagnosed and reported in the country for first time. He said it is a mosquito-borne viral disease which occurs in tropical countries and has been reported from Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia. He said that the Ministry of National Health Services has taken a number of steps to prevent and control the Chikungunya. He pointed out that an advisory in this regard was issued to all concerned for better prevention and control of the disease. He said National Institute of Health Islamabad is providing free of cost laboratory diagnostic facilities to the provincial government.
To a question, Dr Darshan said AIDS patients have been treated free of cost. He said according to a survey, there are 17024 registered AIDS patients all over the country and at present 8133 patients are getting treatment.
Replying to a question, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali told the House that the government is working on a number of energy projects and hoped that electricity load-shedding will end by the end of this year. He said load-shedding has already been decreased to three hours in urban areas and four to five hours in rural areas. He said electricity load-shedding duration is more in the areas where line losses are higher and recoveries are less. He pointed out that in PESCO, there are 85 percent losses on 190 feeders. He said transmission lines are being improved and new grid stations are installed to improve the power supply system in the country.
Parliamentary Secretary for National Food Security and Research Rajab Ali Baloch told the House that Pakistan is one of the leading milk producing country in the world.
He said it is the responsibility of the provincial governments to regulate prices of milk and check its quality. He said Punjab Government has established Punjab Food Authority to keep a check on the quality of milk and other food items.
Responding to a question, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah told the House that the government has taken a number of steps to counter sectarian conflicts during the last four years. He said National Ulema and Mashaikh Council has been constituted for the purpose.
He said the council has representation from all Wifaqs, all schools of thought and all the provinces. It has been assigned the duty to promote religious harmony and to remove hate literature from the curriculum of the Madaris.
To a question, he said Hajj arrangements will be further improved and more facilities to the intending pilgrims will be provided during the Hajj this year. He said the Saudi Government has restored the 20 percent quota of Pakistan, reduced due to expansion of Haram. He said this quota will be added in the Government Hajj scheme during upcoming Hajj this year.
