Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has granted in-principle approval for the launch of the “Chief Minister Punjab Disease Prevention Programme” aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of major diseases across the province.
The programme will focus on the prevention of diabetes, tuberculosis (TB), AIDS and hepatitis, alongside a province-wide public awareness campaign to educate citizens about life-threatening and infectious diseases.
The decision was taken during a special meeting chaired by the chief minister, where Secretary Health and Population Nadia Saqib gave a detailed briefing on the proposed initiative. It was decided that a comprehensive awareness drive will be launched across Punjab, which will be personally led by the chief minister.
Officials informed the meeting that the campaign will highlight preventive measures and treatment options for major diseases, with special emphasis on public awareness and early detection.
The chief minister directed authorities to ensure strict implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in public hospitals, particularly to prevent the spread of epidemic and rapidly spreading diseases.
She also instructed the Healthcare Commission to closely monitor compliance with health SOPs in private hospitals and clinics, and ordered strict legal action against quack clinics operating across the province.
CM Maryam Nawaz emphasized that public awareness regarding prevention of fatal and infectious diseases is essential for improving health outcomes, adding that early diagnosis plays a key role in saving lives. She said patients must be provided not only treatment but also hope and support for recovery.
Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has stressed that creative thinking is vital for human development, effective problem-solving and building a better future.
In her message on World Creativity and Innovation Day, she said the occasion serves as a reminder to expand intellectual horizons and adopt innovative approaches to address emerging challenges. Highlighting the importance of creativity for sustainable development, she urged individuals to embrace new ideas and think beyond conventional boundaries.
The chief minister said that valuing diverse perspectives and promoting teamwork were essential to fostering innovation, adding that the creative potential and forward-looking aspirations of youth were key drivers of societal progress. She emphasised that the integration of technology and innovation in development projects and education had become indispensable, observing that meaningful change was driven not merely by resources but by powerful ideas.
CM Maryam Nawaz said that Pakistani youth were making notable progress in fields such as e-commerce and artificial intelligence, reflecting the country’s growing digital capacity.
The CM said the Punjab government was actively promoting information technology, artificial intelligence and other modern technologies across the province. She added that the Nawaz Sharif IT City, the first project of its kind in Punjab, was being established in Lahore to create new opportunities in the technology sector.
She added that, in collaboration with Google, free certification courses had been launched for more than 100,000 students, alongside concrete measures to enhance IT training.