LAHORE: The caretaker Punjab government has launched for the first time a four-year degree programme in the evening shift in all 44 nursing colleges of the province.

The female students studying in the evening shift will also get a stipend of Rs31,470 per month as per the government policy.

The medical professionals hope the initiative will have a positive impact on nursing health education.

Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Principal Prof Al-Fareed Zafar said the step will prove a game changer in the promotion ofnursing health education in Punjab and address the chronic shortage ofnursesinthehospitalsacrossthe province.

In a statement here on Monday, he said a large number of trained nurses will benefit from the evening shift classes, which will not only strengthen the healthcare system, but also improve the quality of patient care in hospitals.

There are many job opportunities in the hospitals of foreign countries as well, and this decision will pave the way for qualified nurses to work abroad which will not only improve the economic condition of hundreds of families, but also bring a lot of remittances toPakistan.

The PGMI head said the evening shift in the nursing colleges of the province was introduced by Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi who showed his strong commitment in this regard.

He added that FSc pass students should join the field of nursing with the spirit of serving the ailing humanity, which will not only solve the problem for employment of educated women, but also give them an opportunity to serve the patients.

Nursing is the only field which offers stipend during the studies and helps the successful students in securing a BPS-16 job after completing their education, he added.