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Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
CM Maryam launches ‘Insulin Card' for children with diabetes
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched a unique program titled 'CM Insulin for Diabetes' for young children suffering from Type-I congenital diabetes. The CM along with Pakistan Post riders reached the residences of young children to hand over insulin cards. She went to the house of Wasay Adnan, resident of Sabzazar Q-Block and handed over an insulin card. She also went to Jamil Town and gave 'CM Insulin Card' to Zainab Waheed and Zain Shahzad. The Chief Minister also handed over insulin, glucometer BSR strips and a box of needles to Wasay, Zainab and Zain. She hugged young Wasay Adnan's grandmother and also greeted other family members. She showed affection to young patient Wasay Adnan. The youngest of the three siblings Wasay is suffering from diabetes by birth. She also promised to send five-year-old Wasay Adnan a car. She also conversed with Zainab Waheed and expressed her affection to her. The Chief Minister also directed to ensure Zain Shahzad's eye check-up and treatment. On the arrival of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a huge crowd gathered on the rooftops and streets. On her arrival, little girls showered flower petals on her and warmly welcomed her. She also took selfies with the girls at their request. Elderly women prayed for the well-being and success of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. She while talking to the family members said that she feels more concerned and worried about their children's health. The CM added, 'I can understand the pain and anxiety of children suffering from diabetes. Free insulin program for young children has been launched on the genuine demand of poor parents and dire need of children. Under the 'Sehatmand Punjab' vision, the government will reach out to every child who cannot afford to buy medicine or insulin.' She highlighted, 'Children's health is of foremost importance for the Punjab government. For the first time, children are being provided with glucometers and test strips along with insulin. Children are the bright future of the nation and all resources are being placed at their disposal. The rapid spread of diabetes among children is a matter of grave concern.' The Chief Minister was informed in a briefing about the insulin card program in which during the first phase, 1500 children will be provided insulin at their doorsteps under free insulin program. Riders of Pakistan Post will verify the insulin card by scanning on a special app. After undergoing scanning process of CM insulin card, insulin will be handed over to the patients. It was further apprised in the briefing that under the Cold Chain System of Pakistan Post, riders of Pakistan Post will go door to door and provide insulin required for three months to the children suffering from type-I diabetes. They will have to go to the hospital for quarterly check-ups. Children suffering from type-I diabetes can register at the NCD Clinic, Maryam Nawaz Health Clinic or on the Healthline app 1033. Quarterly follow-up check-ups at the district or sub-district headquarters have been made mandatory for children suffering from type-I diabetes. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
CM launches Insulin Card for diabetic children
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz hands over glucometer and other necessary items to a diabetic child at her home after launching the Insulin Card programme. The beneficiaries will be provided free insulin at their doorsteps. photo: nni Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched an 'Insulin Card' programme for children suffering from Type-I congenital diabetes. She launched the programme along with Pakistan Post riders, visiting the homes of children to hand over the cards. According to a statement, she went to the homes of Wasay Adnan in Sabzazar, and Zainab Waheed and Zain Shahzad in jamil Town to give them the cards. The chief minister also handed over insulin, glucometer strips and boxes of needles to the patients. The youngest among three siblings, five-year-old Wasay is suffering from diabetes by birth. The chief minister also issued directives to ensure Zain's eye check-up and treatment. On her arrival, a huge crowd gathered on the rooftops and streets. The CM also took selfies with the girls at their request. Talking to the families of the beneficiaries, she said, "I can understand the pain and anxiety of children suffering from diabetes. The free insulin programme for young children has been launched on the genuine demand of poor parents and dire need of children. Under the 'Sehatmand Punjab' vision, the government will reach out to every child who cannot afford to buy medicine or insulin." She highlighted, "Children's health is of foremost importance for the Punjab government. For the first time, children are being provided glucometers and test strips along with insulin. Children are the bright future of the nation and all resources are being placed at their disposal. The rapid spread of diabetes among children is a matter of grave concern." The chief minister was informed in a briefing about the programme that during the first phase,1500 children will be provided insulin at their doorsteps. Riders of Pakistan Post will verify the Insulin Card by scanning on an app. After the scanning, insulin will be handed over to the patients.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Markhor population sees positive trend
"With capacity-building programmes and engagement of local communities in conservation initiatives, a positive population trend has been observed in the Markhor species". WWF-Pakistan stated this on World Makhor Day while appreciating the conservation efforts of local communities in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. According to the organisation, close coordination between conservation organisations, government departments and local communities has resulted in an increase in the Markhor species and their habitat range in Pakistan. In June 2024, WWF-Pakistan, in collaboration with Pakistan Post, issued stamps showcasing the Kashmir markhor. According to WWF, the markhor species in Pakistan faces numerous threats that jeopardise its survival. However, the involvement of communities has improved the habitat and population of these species. The markhor, declared the national animal of Pakistan, is a large wild goat species native to South Asia and Central Asia, mainly existing in Pakistan, India, the Karakoram range, parts of Afghanistan and the Himalayas. Since 2015, it has been classified as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Often based on their horn configuration, the markhor has been divided into five sub-species, namely Astor markhor, Bukharan markhor, Kabul markhor, Kashmir markhor and Suleiman markhor. Remarking on the day, WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan lauded the efforts of local communities in the protection of the Markhor species and highlighted the need for transnational conservation efforts to safeguard their future.
Express Tribune
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
NADRA shuts down CNIC services at GPOs nationwide
Listen to article The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has discontinued identity card-related services at General Post Offices (GPOs) nationwide, citing low public utilisation and lack of awareness, Express News reported. Initially launched three years ago as a government initiative, the collaboration between NADRA and Pakistan Post aimed to facilitate citizens with easier access to services such as CNIC renewal, address updates, and marital status changes through dedicated counters at post offices. However, NADRA has now ordered the closure of all such counters, directed staff to return equipment and deposit collected fees. Ready CNICs are to be immediately handed over to applicants before counters are fully dismantled. A NADRA spokesperson confirmed the decision, stating, 'Due to the extremely low number of applicants at post office counters, the facilities have been shut down. The equipment will be transferred to union councils in the upcoming fiscal year.' Despite offering key services like address updates, renewals, and photo/signature modifications, the initiative failed to gain public traction. Officials attributed the limited turnout to inadequate public awareness. The counters, which were operational in major cities including Karachi since February 2022, were part of a 10-year agreement between NADRA and Pakistan Post. Only three years in, the programme has now been discontinued, affecting roughly 83 counters across all four provinces and Azad Kashmir. In Karachi alone, counters set up at 10 major post offices — including II Chundrigar Road and Saddar GPO — have been shut down. These counters had helped ease pressure on NADRA centres by reducing queues. Sources noted that while the service helped reduce congestion at NADRA offices, many citizens were unaware of the availability of these facilities at post offices. 'Most people didn't know such services existed,' said one official. NADRA and GPO authorities had reportedly planned public awareness campaigns through social media and other channels, but these efforts never materialised at scale. The NADRA spokesperson confirmed that the equipment from the now-closed counters will be reassigned to local union councils to improve decentralised service delivery.
Express Tribune
24-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Ramazan programme repeats mistakes
Although the spirit of Ramadan encourages people to extend a helping hand to those surviving on the margins of society, state-sponsored welfare initiatives cannot be run simply on the magnanimity of the incumbent leaders, without a pragmatic consideration of their associated costs and benefits. This year, the Punjab government has allocated Rs30 billion for the Nigahban Ramadan Program. Unlike the preceding years, when ration bags would be distributed, this year the government has decided to grant cash transfers to underprivileged families, who will receive the money through pay orders. Although the program promises monetary assistance of Rs10,000 to 3 million families, critics believe that several loopholes in the program will ultimately prevent the welfare funds from reaching deserving households. Dr Aslam Qais, an economist, revealed that the Punjab government had appointed the Bank of Punjab for distributing money to the deserving families, but no one knew from where the bank would arrange these funds. "The example of the past is before us. The names of the families of big bureaucrats were included in the Benazir Income Support Program, so why has the same method been adopted again. In every government, some people become rich under the guise of the poor," said Dr Qais. Recent reports support Dr Qais's concerns, with financial irregularities amounting to a staggering Rs141 billion uncovered in BISP for the fiscal year 2023-24. As per the claims of the report, more than 3 million out of 9.3 million beneficiaries did not have a registered family CNIC while payments totaling over Rs116.95 billion were made without verification to government employees, businesspersons, and other ineligible individuals. Critics have expressed similar doubts over the feasibility of the Nigahban Ramadan Program, the latest white elephant of the Punjab government, under which the Bank of Punjab will be paid Rs519 million while Pakistan Post will be paid Rs825 million as service charges for the dispatching of pay orders. Renowned forensic auditor, Kokab Jamal Zuberi opined that although disbursing money through pay orders was a better practice than distributing rations, there was also a possibility of fraud and registration of ghost individuals, as was seen in BISP. "Apart from this, it is also not clear whether the huge amount of Rs30 billion that is being distributed to deserving families is being paid from loans obtained from other countries or from the Zakat and Ushr funds," expressed Zuberi. Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Lahore's President, Imtiaz Sheikh lambasted the Punjab government's decision to offer cash transfers. "Last year, they distributed ration bags by putting up pictures of Nawaz Sharif and barely 15 per cent of the deserving people could get them. The same will happen again since they have not yet been able to finalize the data due to which some mismanagement is expected," predicted Sheikh. On the other hand, Salma Butt, Assistant to the Chief Minister of Punjab for Price Control and Accommodations Management, disclosed that last year, several loopholes were discovered in the process of distributing ration bags during Ramadan. "This year, families can either get this money after depositing the pay order in their bank accounts or they can contact any bank agent in their area. The aim of this move is to ensure transparency," claimed Butt. Disagreeing with Butt, Dr Qais believed that the best way to provide relief to the people during Ramadan was to abolish sales tax on a few basic food items including ghee, sugar, and flour. "This will reduce prices and everyone will get relief," he concluded.
