PM sets deadline for Jinnah Complex

Orders first phase completion by March 2027

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to complete the first phase of the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre by March 2027, aiming to provide the citizens with modern healthcare facilities at the earliest.

The prime minister issued these directives while chairing a review meeting on the construction of the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre and the Phase-2 extension of the Federal Government Polyclinic here at the PM Office, a news release said.

The prime minister said that providing quality healthcare facilities to the public was the top priority of the government, adding that the pace of reforms in the health sector should be further accelerated.

During the meeting, various construction designs and proposals for the proposed Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre building were presented for consideration. The participants were also briefed on the progress made on the construction of the Federal Government Polyclinic Phase-2 extension.

The meeting decided that the Federal Government Polyclinic extension, currently under construction in Sector G-11, would be launched as the first phase of the Jinnah Medical Complex. The decision was aimed at making the hospital operational at the earliest and providing citizens with the best possible healthcare facilities.

The prime minister directed that all possible measures be taken to develop the first phase of the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre into a modern, state-of-the-art hospital. He further directed that the installation of modern and high-tech medical equipment and machinery at the hospital be ensured.

The prime minister also directed that third-party validation of the project be continued alongside its physical progress, to maintain transparency and quality standards.

Cheque

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met the nurse who saved a newborn's life during the recent fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and awarded her a cheque of Rs10 million in recognition of her extraordinary bravery and sense of duty.

In a meeting held at the PM Office in Islamabad, the premier said, "Nurse Razia Noreen, by placing her own life in danger, saved the newborn with courage … for this noble act, may Allah Almighty bestow abundant reward," adding that the entire nation took pride in her and acknowledged her bravery.

To honour her sense of devotion to duty, the premier presented a Rs10 million cheque to the nurse as she accompanied Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar at the meeting.

The monetary reward carried its own meaning; the real recognition was that she truly deserved this honour, he added. He further announced that the Sitara-e-Khidmat would be conferred on her on March 23, 2027, in recognition of her extraordinary services.

PM highlighted that the mother of the child whom the nurse saved would forever remember Razia in her prayers.

At the same time, the premier vowed to punish those responsible for the fire at the PIMS hospital. "The government will make every effort in this regard," he stressed during the meeting.

Razia said she was "only carrying out her duty", as people had entrusted their children to her.

She said that she was happy to receive recognition and hoped fellow nurses followed her example and replicated her dedication and work.

Recalling the fire incident at PIMS, she said she could not think of anything and went straight inside to save who she could. She also said she instructed another nurse to save the children, who then helped her rescue people outside the neonatal ward, including mothers who recently went through C-sections.

She said she rescued a small child weighing 1050 grams and handed him over to Dr Abdul Rehman so that he did not get misplaced during the chaos that followed the fire. She said she ran back inside to save another child when a blast tore through the area, engulfing it in smoke and darkness.

Razia lamented that she could not save more children.