Punjab CM inaugurates medicine warehouse project

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated one of Pakistan’s largest medicines warehouse project aimed at improving healthcare services across the province in a landmark initiative. The launch took place at the Central Warehouse in Maraka here on Wednesday, overseen by the Health Department, where the CM announced provision of free medicines to hospitals in various districts. During the ceremony, the CM emphasised the importance of ensuring timely access to essential medicines for the public. She directed the immediate operationalisation of additional medicine warehouses in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Multan. The project includes nine fully functional warehouses with the capacity to store medicines and medical equipment worth over Rs 17 billion. Highlighting the project’s scale, the CM personally operated a forklift to load the first batch of medicines for distribution. She inspected the quality of furniture, medical equipment, and other goods prepared for the hospitals. The CM also verified the validity of the medicines and the standard temperature maintenance systems in place at the warehouse. Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan provided a detailed briefing, noting that the warehouses are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to store medicines at standard temperatures. Under the CM’s direction, the project has amassed over Rs. 10 billion worth of medicines and Rs. 7 billion in new medical equipment, furniture, and supplies, including three-colored disposable bed sheets. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Senator Parvez Rashid, Provincial Minister for Information & Culture Azma Zahid Bokhari, Provincial Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique and Khawaja Imran Nazir, Special Assistant Zeeshan Malik, Dr. Adnan Khan, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Secretary Health Ali Jan, and Secretary Information Ahmed Aziz Tarar. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has stressed the need for public-private partnership in achieving development goals in the province. During a meeting with J7 Group Chairman Maqbool Hussain Awan here on Wednesday, the CM said: “We are encouraging private sector investment in the province.” She discussed the need for joint efforts to improve basic infrastructure in the province, and discussed cooperation in several important areas like urban development and affordable housing. Chairman Maqbool Hussain Awan appreciated Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision of public service, and said, we want to partner with the government to improve quality of life of people. Senator Pervez Rashid and other relevant officers also attended the meeting. Separately, Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to Pakistan Alfred Grannas called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif here on Wednesday. Growth in bilateral relations, including business, trade and technical education were discussed in the meeting. The CM reviewed possibilities of further cooperation in various sectors like health, education, renewable energy, vocational training, information technology and others in the meeting. CM Maryam Nawaz appreciated Germany’s ongoing cooperation and investment in development sectors of Punjab, and assured German investors and businessmen of full support in providing help and facilities they needed. She said that Germany was a global leader in renewable energy, and had served humanity by taking environment-friendly measures. She added, “We are also starting a solarization project to provide clean and green energy to the citizens of Punjab. We want to equip youth with the skills needed by the job market.” The CM commended the prompt response of German authorities against the miscreants who attacked Pakistani embassy in Germany, and said, “It is hoped that the people involved in the incident will be brought to justice and such incidents will not happen in the future.” Alfred Grannas reiterated Germany’s commitment to strengthen mutual relations with Punjab, and appreciated the efforts of Punjab government in creating a favourable environment for foreign investment in the province. He agreed to continue mutual cooperation for achieving sustainable development goals and promoting innovation and technological progress. Senator Pervaiz Rashid and other officials were also present in the meeting.