Naqvi announces free treatment for wall collapse victims

Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi says the best and free healthcare facility will be given to the 14 injured admitted to the Ganga Ram Hospital. The caretaker chief minister visited the Ganga Ram Hospital on Thursday to inquire after those who suffered injuries in a wall collapse incident. Of the 14 injured, four people have reportedly been in critical condition. The caretaker chief minister announced that cheques of Rs200,000 would be given to every injured. He said action would be taken against the people responsible for the incident after an inquiry. Regarding the current monsoon spell, he said the provincial ministers had already been mobilised. They had been visiting the affected areas and overseeing arrangements for rainwater drainage and reopening of roads, he said. Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab made an emergency visit of different parts of Lahore in torrential rain. Naqvi by giving up all his other official engagements reviewed the situation arising out of torrential rain and issued on the spot directions to Commissioner Lahore division and MD WASA for water drainage work. Naqvi reviewed the situation arising out of rain in Qaddafi Stadium, Gulberg, Liberty, Kalma Chowk Underpass, Garden Town, Ferozepur Road, Qartaba Chowk, Harbanspura Underpass, Lakshmi Chowk, Railway Station, Circular Road, Urdu Bazar, Islampura, Multan Road, Samanabad, Gulshan Ravi, Bund Road, Yateem Khana Chowk and Allama Iqbal Town.Caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi said that a record rainfall took place in few hours. We have made proactive administration, WASA and all resources are being utilised for water drainage. “Iam myself overseeing water drainage work. I am concerned about the difficulties of citizens”. Mohsin Naqvi issued directions to the concerned officials for early water drainage at Harbanspura Underpass. Naqvi directed to clear the Harbanspura Underpass as soon as possible.CM was informed during the briefing on the occasion that water drainage work at Harbanspura Underpass will be completed in 2 hours. Caretaker CM lauded the performance of administration and WASA on early completion of water drainage work at Lakshmi Chowk. Naqvi issued directions for drainage of stagnant water through a machinery on the road in front of Urdu Bazar and Islampura. Mohsin Naqvi met with the shopkeepers and residents in Islampura and asked them regarding water drainage. The citizens complained about sluggish water drainage work in Islampura on which CM Mohsin Naqvi assured early completion of water drainage work and apprised them that he is in the field since morning.” Your difficulty is my difficulty and have issued direction to WASA to expeditiously complete water drainage work by utilising more resources”. Mohsin Naqvi also visited Garden Town, Gulberg and CBD Main Boulevard Underpass. Mohsin Naqvi inspected Gulberg main pumping station in Gulberg for water drainage and expressed his indignation over showing sluggishness in water drainage work in the Kalma Chowk underpass going towards Liberty. Mohsin Naqvi ordered to take back water drainage work at CBD Main Boulevard from CBD. Mohsin Naqvi directed to hand over water drainage work to WASA. Mohsin Naqvi asserted that WASA by assuming charge forthwith should complete water drainage work by night. He said the Wasa officer was also reviewing the situation in the city. The situation in the city is under control, he added. Naqvi announced that the district administration had completed arrangements to tackle any emergency situation in case of flooding. He condoled the death of the brother of Jahangir Tareen, Alamgir, who reportedly committed suicide. Meanwhile, Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi presided over an agreement signing ceremony between the Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and the Punjab Prisons Department aimed to facilitate technical courses for prisoners in 10 additional jails across the province. The agreement was signed by the Chief Operating Officer of TEVTA Ahmad Khawar Shahzad and IG Prisons Farooq Nazir, at the CM office. Under this agreement, a total of 16 skill-based courses will be organized in Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Pakpattan, Okara, Jhang, Sargodha, Vehari, Toba Tek Singh, and Layyah jails. Upon successful completion of these courses, which typically last between 3 to 6 months, the inmates will receive certificates to support their reintegration into society. The courses will cover a wide range of skills, including electrical work, welding, plumbing, motorcycle mechanics, fashion design, and computer applications. During the event, the COO TEVTA highlighted that each course can accommodate up to 25 detainees. It was mentioned that TEVTA had already provided training to 20,000 inmates, and an additional 10,000 prisoners, including women and juvenile offenders, will have the opportunity to receive training. Before this agreement was signed, the caretaker CM chaired a meeting to review the progress of utility stores’ establishment in jails. Additionally, a program to establish bakeries in jails, with the support of philanthropists, will be initiated, with the first bakery planned for Lahore’s Camp Jail. Duration of phone calls for prisoners has been increased to 300 minutes per month. The meeting also focused on the repair and renovation of 16 jails, which included the installation of modern kitchens, washrooms, meeting rooms, and laundries. Attendees of the meeting included Addl Chief Secretary (Home), chairman P&D, secretaries of industries, finance, health & C&W departments, chairman PITB and others.