Do more to achieve Quaid’s Pakistan, says Shahbaz

CM opens 60-bed Shahbaz Sharif Hospital on Bedian Road

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday it was regrettable that Pakistan had not progressed in accordance with the Quaid-i-Azam’s vision.

“Provision of affordable education and health facilities is essential to realise the dream of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” the chief minister said after inaugurating Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Hospital on Bedian Road.



He said providing modern health and education facilities to the common man remained a challenge 68 years after Pakistan was created. However, he said efforts were being made to provide equal opportunities to all citizens. He said that

“Access to healthcare and education is the right of every citizen. The government is committed to protecting this right,” Sharif said. “Inauguration of the hospital on the Quaid Day depicts our determination to serve the ailing humanity,” he said.

The chief minister inspected facilities available at the hospital. He inspected the modern filter clinic (emergency) and talked to doctors and paramedical staff. He also went to a rehabilitation centre for the disabled and praised the facilities there.

Sharif also inspected the laboratory, various wards, the X-ray room and mother- and-child health clinic. He said the hospital was a step towards providing healthcare without discrimination. He said that the 60-bed facility had been completed in two years.

He said patients would be treated free of charge and provided free medicines. He said the hospital would be later upgraded a 100-bed facility. “This hospital is a gift for the residents of Bedian. It will run on the pattern of Recep Tayyip Erdogan Trust Hospital in Muzaffargarh,” he said.



The chief minister said a computerised system had been introduced for inventory control at the hospital. He said he was confident that Faisal Bari, the head of Indus Hospital, and his team would operate the new hospital well. He praised doctors for setting up a modern rehabilitation centre for the disabled at the hospital.

Sharif said that efforts were underway to strengthen the country’s economic and social sectors. “Work is in progress on several energy, infrastructure and transport projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” he said.

He said the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project was a gift from China. He said the project would benefit 250,000 people daily. He said the nation had bravely fought the country’s war on terrorism.

Sharif said political and military leaders were on the same page against the terrorists. He praised Pakistan Army for breaking the back of terrorists through Operation Zarb-i-Azb. “No effort will be spared to root out terrorists and their facilitators. Pakistan will be made a haven of peace,” the chief minister said.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafiq, the health secretary and the commissioner were also present on the occasion.

Surprise visit

Sharif paid a surprise visit to the Ghalib Market police station on Saturday. He also visited the operations room at the Model Town SP’s office. He favoured use of technology to check crime and improve police’s performance.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2015.