Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that Punjab is entering a golden era of development by the grace of Almighty Allah.
She expressed these views while meeting members of the Provincial Assembly, who appreciated ongoing development and beautification initiatives across the province, here on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the lawmakers lauded development projects related to the construction and expansion of roads and streets, improvement of drainage systems, provision of clean drinking water under model village schemes, and the integrated sanitation system introduced in rural areas under the “Suthra Punjab” programme on the pattern of urban centres. They also appreciated the construction, repair and expansion of 13,000 roads across Punjab.
On the occasion, the chief minister said that a new phase of development had begun in the province, adding that more than 3,000 health centres were being converted into state-of-the-art health clinics, significantly improving healthcare delivery.
She said that Punjab’s first public sector cancer hospital and the Nawaz Sharif Medical City would be completed at the earliest, while the establishment of the first government autism school was providing hope for children with special needs.
Highlighting healthcare reforms, she said the Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha was providing better treatment facilities, while cath labs were being established in every district for timely treatment of heart diseases. She added that stroke management centres were also being set up across districts to ensure immediate medical care.
The chief minister said that under the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” programme, around 125,000 houses were near completion, while the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” initiative was being launched for unemployed and landless farmers. She further said that electric buses were being introduced to provide comfortable and free travel facilities, including in remote areas of Punjab.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab has become the first province in the country to introduce a General Insurance Company as part of major financial and social protection reforms aimed at expanding coverage for citizens across multiple sectors.
The development was shared during a meeting chaired by the chief minister, where she directed the Punjab General Insurance Company to present a comprehensive health insurance policy plan. A summary for the establishment of the company has also been forwarded to the provincial cabinet for approval.
The CM instructed that the private sector be included in the insurance framework and directed that necessary infrastructure and resources be ensured for effective implementation. She appreciated the business plan and the swift approval process of the initiative.
Officials briefed the meeting that the Punjab Life Insurance Company is being developed to manage the Chief Minister’s health initiatives and the Sehat Sahulat Programme. A special committee has been constituted to oversee the Punjab General Insurance Company, which will manage non-life insurance of government institutions under the supervision of the Finance Department.
It was further informed that the Punjab Life Insurance Company will introduce specialised insurance products for various segments including breadwinners, women, transgender persons, farmers, students and overseas Pakistanis. The company will also offer coverage for natural disasters, pension products, health insurance for underprivileged segments and Shariah-compliant Takaful services.
The meeting was told that the Punjab Life Insurance Company has achieved the fastest registration in the country’s history with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and has commenced operations after hiring 17 professional experts. The CEO of the Punjab Life Insurance Company will also serve as CEO of the Punjab General Insurance Company.
A detailed briefing was also given on both insurance entities, while it was decided to form a board comprising the Chairman P&D, Secretary Finance and President Bank of Punjab.
The CM directed that Punjab has always led reforms and must continue to align with global trends in the insurance sector, ensuring citizens have access to quality healthcare and financial protection services of their choice.