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Thursday, August 20, 2020

PM Imran says every family in KP to be given Rs1 million health insurance

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that every family in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be able to avail up to Rs1 million for treatment as they will be given health insurance by the government.

PM Imran was addressing the Sehat Insaf Card programme ceremony, where he congratulated the provincial government over the inauguration of the scheme.

“The major reason for people living below the poverty line is illness,” the premier said, explaining that due to a single person’s illness in a family, the entire budget of a family is affected.

The premier said that the government is trying to replicate and enforce the model in Punjab.

PM Imran expressed hope that other provinces will also follow KP’s lead and introduce health insurance.

“People in Sindh will also demand that they get health insurance,” he said, adding that the hospitals will also be pressured to perform better due to the health card.

He said that the health card scheme will ensure that facilities will be within the reach of smaller cities and villages.

“It should be ensured that everyone has a health card so a database can be formed. With the database the health expenditure can be monitored.”

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister’s Office said KP would be the first province where every family would be given a health insurance facility.

The Sehat Insaf Card would entitle the beneficiary family to avail the medical treatment of up to Rs1 million in government as well as private hospitals.

Earlier, in the first phase, around 40% of KP families were provided the health insurance facility. Later on, the prime minister directed that the scope of the facility be extended across the province for the benefit of all families.

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All institutions of Pakistan are on the same page, says President Alvi in address to Parliament

President Arif Alvi addressing a joint session of parliament

President Arif Alvi addressed a joint session of parliament on Thursday to mark the advent of the new parliamentary year and recounted the performance of the PTI government over the past two years.

Prime Minister Imran Khan also attended the joint session.

Members of the opposition shouted slogans and voiced their protest as National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser invited the president to speak. Shortly after, some members of the opposition staged a walk out and held a press conference outside Parliament House.

Alvi began his address by highlighting the PTI government's performance over the past two years.

"We should look back on the past two years to see what has been done, what will be done and what should be done."

He congratulated the people of the country for fighting against terrorism. "Another achievement is that you provided shelter to Afghan refugees."

Other countries preach about human rights but don't let even 10 migrants enter their countries, he said, adding that Pakistan had shown its open-heartedness.

The president maintained that "positive news" was not highlighted in the country by the media. "If I have a child, I will encourage them, let them know they have done a good job and that they can do better instead of telling them they have done this or that wrong."

Giving the coronavirus pandemic as an example, the president said that initially there was a lot of fear mongering that the "people will die in the streets".

"Across the Muslim world, Taraweeh prayers and daily prayers at mosques were banned [for fear of the virus spreading]. But we worked with our religious scholars and continued with prayers at mosques.

"When there is a will to take care of the vulnerable segment of society, there is success."

Alvi added that now the world was recognising the government's response to the pandemic. "Today, the world is giving our example. I don't remember the last time I heard something like that."

He also touched upon the government's Ehsaas programme, introduced to provide those most affected by the fall-out from the virus with cash stipends.

"I commend the premier and the government for standing by their stance [on the country's Covid-19 response] despite criticism from the opposition."

The president said that Pakistan's current account deficit had reduced despite the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the economy.

"Our ratings by Moody's and Fitch have improved, showing us that they think the country's situation looks good."

It shows that the government's policies are working, and if the coronavirus had not emerged, it would have managed to take it to new heights, he said.

Commenting on occupied Kashmir, the president said that it was only due to the premier's efforts that the matter was taken up by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) thrice during the past year. "This is your victory."

He also lauded the premier for his strong remarks on Israel, in which he stated that Pakistan would not recognise it as a state until Palestine is freed. "Such bold statements give strength to others."

The president also congratulated the parliament for helping the government to pass bills aimed at removing the country from Financial Action Task Force's grey list.

"Last year there was a lot of noise, but the parliament passed the FATF bills. That is what a parliament is supposed to do.

"I keep getting asked if we are all on the same page and I say that all institutions have the same goals. The government, Pakistan Army, the judiciary, and the media are on the same page.

"We want easy and quick justice for the people and zero compromise on corruption. We also want to overcome all hindrances in the way of the country's development."

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