FROM MENAHILL RASHID
FAISALABAD: Universal Health Card scheme is a revolutionary step of the present Government which would not only ensure basic health facilities to every family but also pave the way for the expeditious growth of the health sector on a sustained basis, said Mr. Zahid Hussain Divisional Commissioner Faisalabad.
He was addressing a function after performing the soft launching ceremony of the state-of-the-art Canal View Hospital. It would be housed in a high-rise, purpose-built building with a facility of 400 beds. Commissioner appreciated the overall role of Faisalabad in the national economy and said that the local business community has played a pivotal role in the growth of this city. He said that now as it is going to become one of the fastest growing cities of South Asia, its infrastructure development is imperative to cater to the future needs of this burgeoning city. About the health card scheme, he said that the Prime Minister has ensured that health facilities should be provided to each and every individual. He also quoted the last visit of the Prime Minister and said that he had approved a number of development projects including the planned Ring Road, Airport and a technical university. He said that we are planning to execute these projects in collaboration with the private sector. He said that Faisalabad would emerge as a well planned city with a futuristic vision to provide the latest civic amenities. He was also appreciative of the local philanthropists who are heavily investing in the health sector. He said that they would continue to provide jobs to the millions of unemployed youths in addition to playing their proactive role in the uplift of Faisalabad.
Mian Muhammad Adrees Chief Executive Officer Sitara Group said that this city has given us respect, wealth and fame and now it is our duty to pay back to it by contributing our productive role in the development of this city. He particularly mentioned the role of local industrialists in the health sector and said that many hospitals and dispensaries are managed by the local industrialists and businessmen. He said that industrialists have also played a key role during natural calamities like earthquakes and floods etc. He said that Aziz Fatima hospital is providing the best health facilities at subsidized rates and during last year twenty million patients were treated in this tertiary care health facility. He said that people from far flung areas also visit this hospital because of its state-of-the-art machinery, highly qualified staff and humble administration. He directed the Medical Superintendent of the hospital to provide free medical facilities to the needy segments of the society. He said that as this hospital is attached with a teaching hospital hence, we have to continue to upgrade its facilities and services so that we could produce medical graduates compatible with the doctors produced by other developed countries. He also appreciated the services of the divisional commissioner and assured that they committed to cooperate with the local administration to accomplish a gigantic task for the up-gradation of infrastructure under public-private partnership mode.
Mian Javed Iqbal Chief Executive Officer Sitara Energy said that numbers of patients have increased manifold due to the health card scheme. He said that patients now select hospitals of their own choice on the basis of their services and hence we must continue to upgrade the quality of our services. He further said that this scheme has opened the door for investment in this sector which would not only facilitate the patients but also provide reasonable profit to the investors.
Mr. Atif Munir Sheikh President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) said that Sitara Group has played a key role in the development of Faisalabad and now we are fully prepared to initiate mega development projects under public private partnership mode under the dynamic leadership of Mian Muhammad Adrees.
The function was also attended by Mian Muhammad Anees, Mian Imran Ghafoor and Hamza Bashir, Mian Haseeb Idrees , Mr. Abdullah Javed Director Sitara Energy, Professor Dr. Zafar Iqbal Vice Chancellor Faisalabad Medical University, Professor Dr. Noor Akbar Sial Principal Aziz Fatima Medical College, Mr. Ejaz Hussain, Mr. Kashif Zia Chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association Faisalabad, Ms. Nighat Shahid President Women Chamber, Chaudhry Talat Mehmood, Mr. Jawad Asghar of Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association, Mian Tanveer Ahmad, Azhar Chaudhry, Farooq Yousuf, Mian Abdul Waheed, Sheikh Fazil and Rana Abrar Ahmed.
