Punjab Chief Minister pays a surprise visit to Ramzan bazaar

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif paid a surprise visits to Ramadan bazaar, DHQ Hospital and brick-kiln in Kasur for four hours without any protocol, today. The Chief Minister reviewed prices and quality of edible items, fruits, vegetables, pulses, sugar and flour in Ramadan bazaar, medical facilities being given to the patients in DHQ Hospital Kasur and steps taken by Punjab government regarding child labour during raid at brick-kiln.

After his visit to Ramadan Bazaar and DHQ Hospital Kasur, the Chief Minister landed his helicopter in fields of nearby village Aroray of Khanwala on returning from Kasur and reached at a brick-kiln. He went to Ramadan bazaar of Railway Station Kasur by a coach and talking to consumers, asked about prices and quality of essential items.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Ramadan bazaars have been set up across the province for the facility of masses where quality daily use items are being provided to the people at cheaper rates. He said that entire government machinery and elected representatives have been activated for ensuring fruits of Ramadan package to the people.

The Chief Minister said that he is personally visiting Ramadan bazaars for monitoring prices and availability of cheap and quality essential items. He also inspected Agri Fair Price Shop and directed that pulses and gram flour should be available in half kg packing in Ramadan bazaar. Senior citizens, women and youth visiting the bazaar told the Chief Minister that the rates of essential items are lower and quality is better in Ramadan bazaar as compared to open market.

The Chief Minister gave “Shabash” to the administration on installation of electronic rate list in the bazaar and said that all out steps be taken for facilitation of people as it is their right. He reviewed the stalls of sugar and low price flour and enquired from the people about their quality. The people told that the prices of sugar and flour are very reasonable and quality is good.

ShahbazSharif gave two kg packet sugar each to the children present at sugar stall as gift, upon which, the children and their patients expressed pleasure and thanked the Chief Minister. The consumers expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made in Ramadan bazaar and raised slogans Chief Minister ShahbazSharifZindabad.

After Ramadan bazaar, the Chief Minister paid an unscheduled visit to DHQ Hospital Kasur. He went to different wards and inquired from patients about medical facilities. The patients and their attendants expressed satisfaction over the facilities and said that treatment in the hospital is good and medicines are also being given free of cost.

The Chief Minister expressed his indignation over switched off of air-conditioners in general wards and said that Punjab government has not invested crores of rupees on installation of air-conditioners in hospitals that they should remain closed. Air conditioners should be functional in offices and switched off in wards of the hospital, are patients not human beings, he questioned?

He said that switching off of air conditioners in general wards of hospitals is very deplorable and he will not allow wastage of this investment. If there was a problem of transformer, he would have been informed and the problem would have been resolved, he added.

The Chief Minister reprimanded concerned authorities on bad condition of cleanliness in washroom of the hospital. Shehbaz Sharif also inspected Operation Theater and directed to further improve hygiene condition and change bed sheets in the operation theater.

The Chief Minister announced free of cost treatment and a financial assistance of five lakh rupees for wife of a labour Muhammad Siddique, under treatment, in general ward of the hospital. He said that Punjab government will provide free of cost educational facilities to Mafia and other children of Muhammad Siddique.

Similarly, Shehbaz Sharif announced free treatment of an elderly woman suffering from liver disease in the hospital and said that Punjab government will extend all out assistance for her treatment. He also announced financial assistance for attendants of some patients in the hospital and directed to shift some patients to hospitals of Lahore.

Talking to doctors and nurses, the Chief Minister said that service to ailing humanity is also rewarded in the world hereafter. He said that service to ailing humanity is a form of worship and doctors and medical staff should pay full attention to look after of the patients.

The Chief Minister went to different wards of the hospital, inquired after the patients and asked about the treatment facilities. He said that Punjab government is spending billions of rupees for improving the conditions of the hospitals and providing quality medical facilities to the people. He asked from under-treatment patients and their attendants about medical facilities and availability of free medicines, upon which, they expressed satisfaction.

Talking to media after his visit, Shahbaz Sharif said that he has come to this hospital for second time, the condition of the hospital is better than earlier, however, there is further room for improvement. He expressed the hope that this hospital will be one of the best hospitals and people of Kasur will get better facilities of treatment.

Shahbaz Sharif said that he has taken notice of switch off of air-conditioners in the hospital and this problem will soon be resolved. After visit to Ramadan bazaar and hospital, the Chief Minister paid a surprise visit to brick kiln at village Aroray. Seeing the Chief Minister, the labourers gathered and thanked the Chief Minister on provision of special scholarships for the education of their children.

Addressing the labourers and people, Shahbaz Sharif said that he will not allow to mortgage future of the nation against some pennies. He said that children working at brick kilns are provided resources and equipped with education.

The Chief Minister said that he will not rest content till enrolment of last child working at brick kiln. He said that elimination of child labour from brick links is our mission and no effort will be spared for its accomplishment. He said that strict action will be taken against the complaint of child labour at brick kilns. He said that Punjab government has given best package for eliminating child labour from brick kilns. He said that a stipend of one thousand rupees is being given to children working at brick kilns while the parents of the children working at brick kilns are being given two thousand rupees for sending their children to schools.

He said that provision of education to children working at brick kilns is a national objective and parents of the children and we all have to play our due role for its achievement. He said that all out resources will be provided for the children working at brick kilns. He said that Punjab government will bear all educational expenditure of the children. He said that free of cost uniform, books, shoes and stationery are being given to school going children and transport facility will be provided to the children of far-flung areas. He said that the cruel system of child labour at brick kilns will be eliminated at every cost.

Addressing the labourers and parents of the children, Shahbaz Sharif said that they should benefit from splendid package given by Punjab government for equipping their children with education and send their children to school, as this is their obligation as well as responsibility. He said that there should not be brick but book in innocent hands.

He said that action will be continued without any discrimination against brick kiln owners involved in child labour and no comprise would be made in this regard. He said that child labour at brick kilns will not be tolerated and added that he is personally supervising the steps being taken for elimination of child labour.