OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE Punjab Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Saeed Elahi has said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has brought the salaries of doctors equal to those of MPAs that showed great respect for the community and importance of people associated with the health sector. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, he said that the CM had announced a historic package of Rs 5.2 billion for economic protection of people associated with health sector in recognition of their services, lengthy and odd hours, professional threats, long duration of education and sacredness of profession of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff and the entire community has welcomed it. Saeed said that despite limited resources, the government had increased the salaries of doctors generously and now it was their responsibility to pay full attention to the service of ailing humanity with same spirit and professional devotion. He said that the CM had also provided Rs 239 million as pay protection for nurses and Rs 376 million for four tiers career structure for paramedics. He hoped that nurses and paramedics would perform their duties with devotion and dedication and utilise all energies for the service of ailing humanity. Meanwhile, Social Security Doctors Association Lahore has demanded the government to implement special health professional pay scale announced by the federal government for the medics working in social security healthcare centres. The demand was made at a meeting held here on Wednesday with President SSDA Lahore Dr Nasir Qureshi in the chair. The participants demanded the Labour and Manpower Minister and Commissioner Social Security to ensure early announcement of package for the medics working at social security hospitals. The participants also decided to finalise future strategy at a meeting to be held on May 15 (Sunday). Moreover, terming Rs 5.2 billion relief package insufficient, Young Doctors Association Punjab chapter has urged the government to accept all demands including time scale promotion, service structure and relief package for the doctors working for Rural Support Programme. Addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club on Wednesday, YDA President Dr Hamid Butt said the medics had postponed strike till May 16, giving a deadline to the government to accept all demands. Butt said though the Punjab government had accepted YDAs major demands but a number of issues were yet to be resolved. If the demands were not met, he said, the YDA would decide its future course of action in its general council meeting scheduled to be held on May 16.