Shaikh Zayed Medical College: Doctors are our shining stars, says CM

‘Subsidised medical education is an investment’.


Kashif Zafar April 23, 2014
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: APP/FILE

BAHAWALPUR:


“Since the creation of Pakistan, billions have been spent on providing health facilities to our people and yet the poor remain deprived of modern health facilities. If our doctors become empathetic and work honestly to serve the ill and the oppressed, our nation can join the ranks of the great nations of the world,” Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said while addressing the second convocation of Shaikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan, on Tuesday.


He was the chief guest at the ceremony. The chief minister said self discipline on the part of doctors was imperative otherwise the system could fall apart and have lasting repercussions, he cautioned.

“Our country’s resources have been mercilessly looted in the past...we will take the culprits to court,” he said.

The chief minister exhorted the graduating doctors to take on the challenge of helping humanity by paying special attention to the treatment of the poor and the helpless in the society.



“Turkey has magnanimously established a hospital equipped with state-of-the-art facilities in Muzafargarh...it is now the doctors’ duty to use their skills and motivation to ensure provision of healthcare to people in far-flung areas.”

Sharif said that the government had plans for a revolutionary system to ensure that the poorest segment of the society will have access to modern healthcare facilities. “A messiah does not differentiate between sects, race or religion,” he said.

Subsidised medical education is an investment that the country makes, he said. “Now it is the doctors’ turn to serve the masses.”

Sharif said the graduating doctors were going to step into the “real world” and would have to face the heavy responsibility of serving humanity. “We truly believe that you are our shining stars.”

The ceremony was presided over by University of Health Science’s VC Major General (retd) Muhammad Aslam.

Foundation ceremony

The chief minister also attended the foundation ceremony for Khawaja Ghulam Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology in Rahim Yar Khan. He said the people of south Punjab had placed their trust in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and it was now the government’s duty to serve them well.

“We will make south Punjab the land of educational institutions...this area will produce prodigies who bring laurels to the country and brighten its future,” the chief minister said.

Sharif said classes at the university will begin in September this year. For now, electrical, mechanical, information technology and computer science departments will be launched, he said. The campus building will be state-of-the-art. A steering committee will be constituted to ensure its timely completion. He said the best possible faculty will be recruited for the university.

He said the campus would include a hostel, play grounds and an auditorium. The chief minister said the university will be completed within a year at an expenditure of Rs3.5 billion.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2014.

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