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LAHORE, Jan 07 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that when mothers, sisters and daughters of Punjab step into the field, no force can defeat the province, as they possess the strength to change its destiny.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Community Health Inspectors Program held at Punjab Hockey Stadium, here on Wednesday, the CM said that if a daughter of Punjab stands up with determination, the entire landscape of the province can be transformed. She expressed her desire to interact with every girl present at the ceremony and congratulated Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir, Secretary Health and their entire team for their tireless efforts in launching the initiative.
Highlighting the role of women in public service, Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that Punjab’s daughters, sisters and mothers are no less brave and courageous than anyone else. She observed that once 25,000 community health inspectors enter the field, diseases would be forced to retreat from Punjab.
The CM emphasized that Punjab believes in proactive rather than reactive governance. “When disease strikes, people have to endure the pain of treatment. Our focus is to take precautionary measures in advance,” she said, adding that the government would no longer wait for citizens to approach it, but would instead reach every household through trained community health inspectors.
She noted that the inspectors, after months of training, are now ready to serve humanity. “They are my eyes, ears, pride and dignity,” she said, adding that the program has made Punjab self-sufficient in preventive healthcare, as inspectors would be able to conduct diagnostic tests, administer injections and check blood sugar levels.
The CM said she personally took interest in designing the uniforms of the community health inspectors and approved their toolkits. She added that 25,000 individuals have been employed under the program on a monthly salary of Rs50,000, with a provision for salary enhancement based on performance. She expressed hope that these women would visit every street, work with dedication and be compensated fairly for their services.
CM Maryam Nawaz further said that under the program, a health profile of every household would be prepared, diseases would be assessed and complete records would be maintained digitally. She stressed that as daughters of the nation are serving in the field, ensuring their dignity and protection is the responsibility of all. Suspected cases would be referred to relevant hospitals for timely treatment.
She described the initiative as a prime example of good governance, noting that government teams are now reaching people at their doorsteps. Citing the “Suthra Punjab” campaign, she said that sanitation teams are collecting garbage door-to-door across the province even on Saturdays. “My dream is that no patient visiting a government hospital should ever face difficulty,” she said, adding that the Punjab government is providing free medicines for cancer and heart diseases. She highlighted the establishment of cardiology institutes in Sargodha, Sahiwal and Murree, and said that while a catheterization laboratory in Jhelum was once unimaginable, catheter labs would soon be established in Jhang and Gujranwala as well.
The CM said the government is striving to provide every possible facility to the people of Punjab and reminded community health inspectors that their responsibility is not merely a job but a mission. She expressed confidence that women of Punjab would carve out a distinct place for themselves and play a vital role in the province’s development.
She also disclosed that over 30 million patients have been treated through clinics-on-wheels and field hospitals, underscoring the government’s commitment to accessible healthcare across Punjab.
The ceremony was attended by 55,000 community health inspectors from across the province. The event included a grand walk along the stadium track, where the Chief Minister personally greeted inspectors from each district, encouraged participants at their enclosures, and took a photograph with a girl holding Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s portrait. A fireworks display, a documentary screening on the program, and a marching contingent of inspectors with a band performing national songs added to the celebratory atmosphere.