LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched Pakistan’s first-ever government-run Deceased Transportation Service.
She handed over the keys of vehicles for the service to authorities in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan and also inspected the vehicles. She met Rescue personnel, appreciated their services, and directed them to perform their duties with devotion for the reward of Allah and a spirit of public service.
Under the first phase, the service will provide free-of-cost and dignified transfer of the deceased from government hospitals to their homes in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. By June, the scope of the service will be gradually extended to every tehsil of Punjab, with a dedicated ambulance to be provided in each tehsil for this purpose under the Deceased Transportation Service.
The chief minister said it is unfortunate that private transporters charge excessive fares from families in cases of death at hospitals. “In the moment of grief of losing a loved one, we are with you and will remain with you,” she said, adding that Rescue personnel should not accept any payment even if offered by the bereaved families.
Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique termed the initiative commendable and said that, for now, the service has been launched within city limits in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan. Private ambulances would be arranged in the second phase for other cities.
According to a briefing, the service can be accessed by calling 1122 for the transfer of the deceased from hospital to home, and a dedicated desk will be set up in every government hospital. Trained drivers in uniform will be available round the clock.
Rescue 1122 Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer said the service would also facilitate the transfer of bodies to hospital morgues where required. The system would be monitored through a smart rescue management and dispatch system.
IPOR survey: A survey conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) on the two-year performance of Maryam Nawaz has revealed that a majority of respondents expressed satisfaction with her leadership and the province’s direction of development.
According to the survey report, 69 per cent of respondents expressed satisfaction with the leadership of the chief minister, stating that Punjab is progressing in the right direction. Among them, 32pc rated her performance as “outstanding” while 31pc termed it “good”. The report also noted that a majority of young people expressed support for the chief minister.
The IPOR survey indicated that, based on the two-year performance of the chief minister, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) enjoys 42pc public popularity in Punjab. Around 55pc of respondents said they would vote for the chief minister on the basis of her performance.
Additionally, 56pc of respondents believed that the initiation of development projects contributed to an increase in the chief minister’s popularity, while 65pc said the province is moving in the right direction in terms of development.
The survey highlighted that the Clean Punjab Programme ranked highest among government initiatives with 33pc approval. It also reported improvements in several sectors over the past two years, including women welfare and protection (30pc), public transport (29pc), and education (27pc). Furthermore, 26pc of respondents viewed the law and order situation improved, while 25pc noted better infrastructure.
The IPOR survey was conducted among 7,000 citizens to assess public sentiment, governance performance, and political trends. The sample included 50pc women and 50pc men, with 57pc respondents from rural areas and 43pc from urban centres. Among participants aged 18 to 40, 69pc expressed positive views. The report also found that 56pc of respondents were satisfied with sanitation and municipal services. Public opinion was also gauged on improvements in cleanliness, health and education reforms, relief measures against inflation, public transport, and the revival of Basant.
