LAHORE: Provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has directed the city district government and the Lahore Waste Management Authority (LWMC) to finalise arrangements for setting up of 'waste collection camps' ahead of Eidul Azha. The minister issued this direction while presiding over a high-level meeting at the LWMC headquarters on Tuesday to review arrangements and preparations for Eidul Azha.

Punjab Housing Minister Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, PTI Punjab Chapter President Ejaz Chaudhry, Special Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Ajmal Bhatti, Provincial Secretary Qazi Javed Ahmed, Chairman LWMC Riaz Chaudhry and other senior officials attended the meeting.

While directing the concerned officials to finalise arrangements for setting up waste collection camps within two days in Lahore, the minister urged the citizens to take necessary measures for cleanliness in the city and asked the LWMC to make all possible arrangements to ensure disposal of wastes during Eidul Azha.

Dr Yasmin warned that disciplinary action would be initiated against those officers whose area is not found clean; adding that distribution of waste bags must be started immediately. She added that measures are being taken to control the spread of coronavirus during Eidul Azha. Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid said that Lahore is being divided into different zones and an awareness campaign will be initiated shortly.

Earlier in the day, Dr Yasmin Rashid also chaired a meeting to review the progress on Sehat Insaf Cards Program at the specialized healthcare and medical education department. The meeting was attended by Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Barrister Nabeel Awan, Special Secretary Nadir Chatha, Additional Secretary Dr Asif Tufail, Chief Planning Officer Abdul Haq Bhatti and officials of the Punjab Health Initiatives Management Company and representatives of Partner Insurance.

The officials of the Punjab Health Initiative Company gave a detailed briefing on the progress on Sehat Insaf Cards and shared feedback of the recipients of cards. The minister asked the company to gather and consolidate complete data of the feedback from the beneficiaries as it will help them assessing and improving the performance of the PHFMC and identify areas of improvement.

She expressed that details of the third party validation may be provided to the health department. "We will have a fortnightly performance review of the Punjab Health Initiatives Management Company. The holders of the Sehat Insaf Cards must be provided details of services they can avail through the card," she added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020