CM inaugurates drug addition center at PIMH

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar Monday inaugurated the 100-bed drug addiction center for the treatment and rehabilitation of addicts at Punjab Institute of Mental Health.

He went to different sections including the gymnasium and inquired after the addicts. A patient presented the painting, made by him, to the chief minister who also planted a sapling and prayed for the success of trees plantation campaign.

Talking on the occasion, he said addicts deserve sympathies instead of hatred, as their presence was no less than a social tragedy. It would be a cruelty to leave them at others mercy. Different problems arise due to the menace of narcotics, he maintained.

The whole family suffer due to the presence of an addict and it was the responsibility of the state to help such hapless people.

He said the PTI government strongly believed in the philosophy of a welfare state instead of ruling the people.

He said the Punjab government had established a specialized institution to bring the addicts towards life.

Such people would be rehabilitated by imparting different vocational skills. It was hoped that addicts would become self-reliant after their treatment and the government would treat them to pay them back the joys of happiness, he said.

Usman Buzdar said a state-of-the-art hospital had been established with an amount of Rs.240 million to treat the people suffering from narcotics. Quality healthcare facility would also be available to the patients in this hospital, he added.

Talking to media, the chief minister said a taskforce had been set up for running the hospital and eradication of narcotics in which provincial minister for health and minister for narcotics control would also be given representation.

To another question, he said we were in contact with the Sindh police on the issue of kidnapping of Hindu girls. These girls have also filed an appeal in the High Court.

Usman Buzdar informed that every sort of facility had been provided to Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for the treatment, adding his medical reports were before all of you.

He said the performance of provincial ministers was being monitored regularly and cabinet could be reshuffled if needed.

Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan was like a brother to us, he said.

He said there were many challenges in the province but our commitment was also strong. Improvement of the health sector was among the top priorities and progress of the whole province was our agenda.

Funds would be spent on priority basis for the development of backward areas, he added.

He said a comprehensive wheat procurement policy had been devised and provincial ministers would also be in the field in this regard.

I believe in the teamwork and our whole team was working hard, he added.

Provincial ministers including Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmad, provincial secretaries, doctors, and others were also present on the occasion.