Hospitals on high alert in twin cities

Express Tribune

07-05-2025

Karachi's mayor Syed Mustafa Kamal gestures during an interview at his office in Karachi December 2, 2009. PHOTO: REUTERS
Federal Minister for Health, Syed Mustafa Kamal, has declared a state of emergency across all public hospitals in the federal capital.
Scheduled leaves for all hospital personnel have been suspended, and staff have been instructed to report to duty without delay. All doctors, nurses, paramedics, and administrative staff affiliated with the Federal Ministry of Health and its subordinate institutions have been ordered to remain on high alert.
"In light of the evolving situation, my top priority is to safeguard the health and well-being of our citizens," said Minister Kamal, who also confirmed the cancellation of his official visits to Geneva and Qatar. "The current crisis requires my full attention at home."
As part of the emergency response, the Ministry has established a 24/7 Emergency Quick Response Centre at the Federal Health Institution. The centre is tasked with assessing health-related threats arising from the conflict and coordinating a rapid and unified response across the country. The centre will maintain constant communication with provincial and district health authorities to ensure coordinated action.
Provincial Health Secretaries have been directed to keep close contact with the federal ministry and to update their emergency response strategies in alignment with federal protocols as the situation develops.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with health officials as emergency services are mobilised to meet the growing demands on the healthcare system.
On the other hand, in the wake of the recent Indian aggression against Pakistan, authorities in Rawalpindi issued an emergency alert for three allied hospitals in Rawalpindi to deal with any potential emergency situations. A 14-point emergency schedule was activated in this regard.
A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor of Rawalpindi Medical University, Professor Dr Muhammad Umar. The meeting, attended by the Medical Superintendents (MS) and Heads of Departments of the three hospitals - Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital - was conducted at the New Teaching Block of Rawalpindi Medical University.
During the meeting, the 14-point emergency schedule was discussed, and immediate implementation of the following directives was ordered by the VC.
Officials have been tasked to ensure disaster cupboards are stocked and up to standard, ensure availability of all blood groups in the blood bank, finalise emergency bed allocations, maintain six burn beds in each hospital, ensure orthopedic availability of beds and uninterrupted gas supply, prepare anesthesia emergency rosters for senior staff, allocate 48-hour shifts for senior staff and ensure operation theaters are ready with required HR and linen.
It is further asked that ICU will be equipped with a capacity of 10 beds, with a 10.10 core ready for emergency services, and hospitals will be prepared for emergency wartime services within the next 12 hours. In case of deep injuries, burns, bullet wounds, explosions, or missile injuries, doctors will be ready to respond quickly.
All emergency staff and Heads of Departments (HODs) must keep their mobile phones on at all times and remain available for duty, including on-call services. Continuous communication should be maintained with the Deputy Commissioner (DC)'s office, Rescue 1122, Edhi Ambulance Service, and Civil Defence.
With additional input from APP
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Women lawyers condemn Indian aggression
our correspondent
RAWALPINDI. Senior female lawyers from the High Court and District Bar Associations in Rawalpindi have strongly condemned India's recent missile attacks, calling them cowardly acts that resulted in the deaths of innocent women and children.
They praised Pakistan's armed forces for their robust defensive response and vowed continued support in the face of aggression.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, senior lawyers, including Sarkar Abbas, Tasleem Abbasi, Ansa Mehnaz Satti, Nusrat Noreen Satti, Kaneez Fatima, Zaib Fayyaz, Masooma Asif, Sabahat Tariq, Shazia Yasin Hashmi, Naheed Ayub Raja, Iqra Asif, Zohra Fazal Khokhar, and Zubaida Khanum, stated that Indian hostility will always be met with equivalent strength.
They asserted that India cannot unilaterally violate international agreements like the Indus Waters Treaty, which has the World Bank as guarantor.
The lawyers commended Pakistan's air force for downing five Rafale fighter jets and described the act as a significant achievement. They emphasised that the nation stands united with its military and, if necessary, both male and female lawyers, along with court clerks, are ready to donate blood for the armed forces.
"We may have a thousand internal disagreements," said one lawyer, "but when it comes to Pakistan, we are one." They concluded by stating that India would remember the consequences of its actions for years to come, vowing to settle all past and present scores accumulated over the past 77 years.