Governor Punjab Ch. Muhammad Sarwar Thursday said that the opposition should refrain from 'reckless politics of emotions' as the country cannot afford lockdown and protest movement at this point of time.
"India is lobbying to strip Pakistan of GSP Plus status but we will not let it succeed; I have planned a week-long visit to Europe to meet the members of European Parliament to discuss situation in Kashmir and GSP plus status," the governor said while talking to media after addressing an awareness session organized by Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in collaboration with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) here at the Governor's House today.
Answering a question, the Governor assured that the culprits involved in Chunian incident would be awarded exemplary punishment while action has already been taken against those officials who have shown negligence.
Expressing serious concerns over situation in occupied Kashmir, he said that Pakistan fought the case of Kashmir at every forum and the PM in his visit to the US would meet the US President and other world leaders.
Earlier addressing the seminar, the Governor said that legislation after inputs from all the stakeholders can help minimize attacks on healthcare workers apart from ensuring prompt access of medical care to the patients.
It may be noted that a nationwide campaign titled 'Bharosa Karein' was launched on July 23 this year, to promote respect for the healthcare professionals (HCPs) and medical facilities in the country in view of increasing incidents of violence at the hands of patients and their attendants.
Chaudhry Sarwar spoke highly of the PRCS for its valuable countrywide humanitarian services and emphasized the need for collective efforts to ensure a better working environment for the healthcare professionals. He said the government stands with the PRCS and ICRC in their mission. He added that doctors and paramedics were 'messiahs' and their protection was the responsibility of all.
Chairman PRCS Dr Saeed Elahi said on the occasion that violence against healthcare professionals was a significant public health dilemma that hindered the patients' speedy access to proper medical care and efforts made at different levels for prevention and elimination of diseases.
He said violence against HCPs and medical facilities not only affect the standard of medical service, but also threatened the life of both the patients and healthcare professionals. He said the PRCS would work shoulder to shoulder with the ICRC in its campaign.
Addressing the participants, former Justice Sheikh Farooq Ahmed said that several precious human lives were lost in the past due to doctors and paramedics' strike against violence by the patients' attendants and relatives. "It is our collective responsibility to play role in stopping such incidents," he added.
Earlier, the ICRC Head of HCID Program Mir Waiz briefed the participants on a research study conducted by the ICRC, Khyber Medical University, and educational institutions on increasing incidents of violence against the healthcare professionals in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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