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Tag: Punjab

  • Misuse of Sehat Card to be investigated after private hospitals make millions

    Misuse of Sehat Card to be investigated after private hospitals make millions

    The latest data regarding Sehat Sahulat Programme facility reveals that nearly 80 per cent of Caesarean section (C-section) procedures covered by the Programme in private hospitals across Punjab were conducted by obstetricians, potentially resulting in significant financial gains at the expense of taxpayers.

    Figures from 2016 to January 2024 reveal that private hospitals claimed approximately Rs16.36 billion for C-section and normal delivery procedures, with a substantial portion going to private healthcare facility owners.

    State Life Insurance Corporation subsidies were offered for various medical procedures under the program. Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC) oversaw healthcare coverage, with 668,238 C-sections performed, predominantly in private facilities.

    This discrepancy between private and government hospital procedures has raised concerns among medical observers, prompting calls for an independent investigation.

    Similarly, payments to private hospitals for C-sections and normal deliveries totaled Rs16.36 billion from 2016 to January 2024, with a significant portion claimed in 2022 and 2023, leading to a ban on C-sections at private hospitals by the caretaker Punjab government in mid-2023 due to excessive claims.

    The major claim of Rs7.19 billion was recorded in 2023, Rs8.16 billion in 2022, Rs610 million in 2021, Rs168 million in 2020 while another amount was calculated for the rest of the years.

  • Maryam Nawaz announces first public cancer hospital in Punjab

    Maryam Nawaz announces first public cancer hospital in Punjab

    Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, has announced plans to build the first government cancer hospital in Punjab. The hospital will be built near Valencia town in Lahore, as per SAMMA. 

    The newly-elected chief minister visited the potential site for the hospital and received a briefing about the project. The CM also approved the construction of a hotel building for the attendants of cancer patients.

    Maryam Nawaz said that cancer patients will get free treatment in the hospital.

    The Punjab chief minister also announced that the government will provide the best medical professionals and state-of-the art equipment to treat cancer patients.

    She declared that screening for diseases will start in the province, adding that when she vacates her office after five years, she wants a state-of-the-art hospital in every city. She also announced free medicines in all emergency departments of government hospitals starting today. The Rescue 1122 service has been asked to launch a motorway ambulance service.

  • Qamar Zaman Kaira to be next Governor of Punjab?

    Qamar Zaman Kaira to be next Governor of Punjab?

    The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has nominated stalwart loyalist Qamar Zaman Kaira and two other party leaders for the post of governor of Punjab as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has agreed to form a coalition government with the PPP, The News has reported on Monday.

    Sources have told The News that the names of Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood and Chaudhry Riaz are also in consideration for the post of Governor.

    However, the PPP is currently holding consultations for the post of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) governor, as the party will announce the names of their candidates for both positions after the presidential elections, which are going to be held on March 9.

    The development comes after both parties reached an agreement to form a coalition government in the centre, wherein the PPP, with its 54 National Assembly seats, agreed to support the PML-N in government formation after none of the parties managed to secure a simple majority in the lower house in the February 8 general elections.

  • Lahore: Public holiday announced on March 2

    Lahore: Public holiday announced on March 2

    The local government has announced a public holiday in Lahore on March 2 (Saturday) to mark the annual urs of Hazrat Shah Hussain, popularly known as Madhu Lal Hussain.


    The 436th annual three-day urs celebrations of Madhu Lal Hussain will begin in Lahore on Saturday, reports The News.


    Secretary Auqaf Dr Tahir Raza will inaugurate the urs by performing traditional chador laying on the grave of the saint. Members of the Religious Committee and a large number of devotees will participate on the occasion as well.


    The Auqaf Department has allocated Rs459,000 for the Urs grant. Local police have made foolproof security arrangements for the visitors.

  • After Punjab gives control to a woman, all hail women deputy speakers in KP, Balochistan

    After Punjab gives control to a woman, all hail women deputy speakers in KP, Balochistan

    After Maryam Nawaz was given the charge of Chief Minister in Punjab, other provinces are also stepping up and recognizing the position of women in politics. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have also elected women for the post of deputy speakers in their respective assemblies.


    PTI-backed member from Chitral, Suraiya Bibi has been elected as the Deputy Speaker in KP Assembly after securing 87 votes.


    Suraiya Bibi is from the constituency of PK-1 Chitral, representing the Banu, Chitral, and Lower Dir regions. She has served as the Vice President of the Malakand Women’s Wing of the Tehreek-e-Insaf. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology. However, it is important to note that she is the second woman in the province to have been elected for this post. The first was Mehr Taj Roghani from Mardan, who is now a senator.

    In Balochistan, Ghazala Gola has been elected unopposed as the deputy speaker of the Balochistan Assembly.

    She belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and according to her Twitter bio has served as a provincial minister on women’s development in Balochistan.


    Additionally, Sindh Assembly has elected Anthony Naveed from PPP as the deputy speaker. Naveed is from a minority community and is a former Special Assistant To Chief Minister Sindh – Pakistan on Interfaith & Harmony.

  • ‘Lost diamond in search for gold,’ Pakistani Twitter missing Buzdar is a hilarious must-see

    ‘Lost diamond in search for gold,’ Pakistani Twitter missing Buzdar is a hilarious must-see

    Social media in Pakistan never lets go of a chance to have a meme fest, and the appointment of a new Chief Minister in Punjab proved to be the fuel the meme machine needed to churn out hilarious content.

    The newly-elected Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, took the oath of office on Tuesday at Punjab Governor House with Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman, Governor of Punjab, administering the oath.

    During the oath ceremony, chief minister Maryam Nawaz was with her father and former prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif. The president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif was also present in the oath ceremony.

    Netizens immediately started reminiscing about former chief minister, Sardar Usman Buzdar, CM of Punjab from 2018 to 2023. Buzdar remained a point of contention for Imran Khan, who’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appointed him as the Chief Executive of the most populous province.

    At one point, Imran Khan referred to the beleaguered Buzdar as ‘Wasim Akram Plus’, implying that the unassuming South Punjab politician was a better version of the greatest left-arm bowler in history.

    Here are the best Twitter reactions, as people remember Sardar Usman Buzdar:

  • Maryam Nawaz set to become Punjab’s First female CM today

    Maryam Nawaz set to become Punjab’s First female CM today

    The Punjab Assembly will likely elect new a chief minister of the province today (Monday). Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz is expected become CM Punjab as her party has the majority in provincial assembly after February 8 elections.
    Maryam Nawaz will be the first female chief minister of the province in history.
    The session has been summoned to meet at 11am and will be presided by newly-elected Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan.
    The PML-N has support of 224 MPAs in the provincial assembly.

    The candidate fielded by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Aftab Ahmad Khan, who is a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has the support of 103 MPAs. Maryam will face him as her opponent.
    Aftab has served as a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA thrice in the Punjab Assembly in 1988, 1993 and 2002. He joined PTI in 2013 and is now serving his fourth term.

  • Pneumonia endemic: 405 kids died in Punjab this year

    Pneumonia endemic: 405 kids died in Punjab this year

    Pneumonia endemic is still spreading in Punjab despite the weather warming up, with 13 children dying of the respiratory illness in the previous 24 hours, reports Geo News.

    The heartbreaking death toll includes two children from Lahore, three from Faisalabad, and two from Bahawalpur, highlighting the widespread impact of the illness across various regions. Additionally, two children in Sheikhupura, and one each in Gujranwala, Multan, and Rawalpindi succumbed to the disease.

    In the last 24 hours, 304 more cases of pneumonia have been reported in Punjab. According to the data of the health department, 29, 603 children have been infected with pneumonia so far this year, out of which 405 lost their lives.


    The Punjab Health Department has issued a plea to parents, urging them to ensure that children complete the immunization course offered free of cost. Immunization remains one of the most effective preventive measures against pneumonia and other infectious diseases, offering vital protection to vulnerable children.

  • Rain, snowfall on its way

    Rain, snowfall on its way

    The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain and strong winds in Karachi today. In Lahore, strong winds have caused the temperature to drop.

    According to the Meteorological Department, it may drizzle at some places in Karachi, Sajawal, and Thatta today. Strong winds will continue to blow in Karachi till this evening with cloudy skies.

    There is a possibility of rain and snowfall in the mountains today in the Pothohar region, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, reports Geo News. Various areas of the country including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Kohat, Malakand, Muzaffarabad, Diamar, Chilas, and Chaman received rain while snowfall was recorded in the mountains.


    Rescue teams have been put on high alert in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, and Murree due to strong winds and rain.


    Commissioner Rawalpindi said that they are monitoring the situation caused by wind and rain in Murree, the Deputy Commissioner has given specific instructions to Murree for necessary arrangements.


    On the other hand, in Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy snowfall occurred in Neelum Jhelum Valley, which affected the movement of traffic due to slippage on connecting roads, the weather became colder due to snowfall in Swat, Upper and Lower Dir, Karam district.

    Abbottabad and Mansehra are experiencing rain in the plains and light snow in the upper reaches, with up to 2 inches of snow in Shogran and 4 inches in Naran.


    Additionally, the western system of rainfall entered North Balochistan after which heavy rain and hailstorms occurred in Pak-Afghan border areas including Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Muslim Bagh, Toba Kakadi, Toba Achakzai, and Sheila Bagh.

  • Maryam Nawaz briefed on Punjab projects even before CM election

    Maryam Nawaz briefed on Punjab projects even before CM election

    The Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Maryam Nawaz, received a briefing on development projects in Punjab. The PML-N nominated Maryam Nawaz as their choice for the province’s chief minister.

    Zahid Akhtar Zaman, the Chief Secretary of Punjab, briefed the PML-N leader after she was nominated for the top provincial position.

    According to sources in Geo News, the provincial chief secretary went to Jatti Umrah on Thursday to brief Maryam and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on the current situation in Punjab.

    During a meeting, Zaman explained the ongoing projects as well as the law and order situation in the province.

    Maryam Nawaz won a National Assembly (NA) and a Provincial Assembly seat in the general elections.

    The party’s stalwart was elected by voters on PP-159 and NA-119, respectively.