Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Dr. Jamal Nasir, announced today that the Punjab government, under the guidance of Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, has taken significant steps to facilitate overseas employment for nurses.
The Primary and Secondary Healthcare department has worked diligently to remove any barriers that previously hindered nurses from seeking employment abroad.
According to Dr. Jamal Nasir, the decision to process nurses’ applications for ex-Pakistan leave on an urgent basis was also made in response to Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s directive. This move is expected to create opportunities for experienced nurses to work abroad while also benefiting the local healthcare system upon their return.
Additionally, the foreign remittances sent back by these nurses during their employment will serve as a valuable contribution to Pakistan’s national cause, as the country is in need of foreign exchange reserves.
To ensure a smooth process, the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has issued comprehensive guidelines specifically designed to assist nurses, including in-charge nurses, head nurses, or any other equivalent designation ranging from BS-16 to BS-19, who wish to take ex-Pakistan leave for overseas employment.
It is essential that applicants be regular nurses, as these guidelines do not apply to nurses working on contract or ad hoc bases. Furthermore, applicants must have a valid employment offer letter from a foreign health facility to be eligible for this opportunity.
In terms of the application process, the minister emphasized the importance of attaching the obtained visa with the leave application to expedite the process. Moreover, for those who are unable to provide the approved leave title from the District Accounts Office, the application will still be processed without delay, and the leave title can be submitted later.
To streamline the process, applications can be directly submitted at the facilitation center, HISDU, and the department commits to deciding on these applications within four working days from the date of submission, eliminating the need for forwarding from the immediate head of the institution where the nurse serves.
Dr. Jamal Nasir has directed the concerned deputy secretary to monitor the pending applications daily. Furthermore, in cases where a substitute nurse is required for a particular health facility, this should not be a reason for delaying the approval of the leave application.
Regarding any applicants under the PEEDA ACT, 2006, their cases will be examined and processed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the seriousness of the charges, in accordance with the established guidelines.
Source: Pro Pakistani