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Business Recorder
7 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
CM inaugurates ‘Mother and Child Health Centre' at LU Jamshoro
HYDERABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday inaugurated the newly built Mother and Child Health Centre at Liaquat University, Jamshoro as major step forward in the province's efforts to improve maternal and child healthcare. The project, completed with the generous support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was hailed as a symbol of enduring friendship between Sindh and Japan. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Minister described the facility as 'a beacon of hope and a new dawn for maternal and child health,' and expressed deep gratitude to the Government and people of Japan. 'This hospital is not just a building of bricks and mortar,' he said, 'It is a statement of compassion, progress, and our shared vision for healthier generations.' The hospital project, which began construction in July 2018, was completed under the Annual Development Programme 2025–26 for Rs. 331 million. It adds 128 beds, bringing the total bed capacity of Liaquat University Hospital to 856, and is fully equipped with modern medical equipment and staff training programs to provide round-the-clock maternal and child health services. It will officially become operational next week, serving families across Hyderabad Division and beyond. The Chief Minister acknowledged the Ambassador of Japan, Shoichi Okamoto, and JICA for their consistent support in Sindh's healthcare reforms, especially during challenging times. He called the project 'a success story of international collaboration that will strengthen our system for generations.' Expanding Healthcare network: Highlighting the government's broader healthcare strategy, Murad Ali Shah announced the establishment of four new Satellite Healthcare Centres in Shahdadpur, Qambar, Shahdadkot, Sujawal, and Mirpur Mathelo. These facilities will extend 24/7 maternal and neonatal care to underserved areas, ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to all segments of society. Shah also emphasised the role of mobile health units and telemedicine in reaching remote communities, calling them 'lifelines for families who were once hours away from care.' The CM said that the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) was spotlighted as a key achievement. Since its inception, SICHN has expanded from Karachi into a province-wide network offering one of the world's largest public neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) systems with over 262 incubators. It may be noted that the institute now treats over 500,000 children annually with a 91 per cent survival rate. Infant mortality in Sindh has declined from 54 deaths per 1,000 live births to 29, a dramatic and verifiable improvement. 'Today, every child in Sindh is within a 30-minute reach of emergency care,' the Chief Minister said, noting that this was unthinkable just a few years ago. Shah praised the ChildLife Foundation for partnering with the government to operate neonatal units in every Taluka hospital, and proudly remarked that SICHN rivals private hospitals in terms of infrastructure and patient outcomes. Murad Ali Shah also highlighted other transformative steps in Sindh's public health sector, including liver transplants at the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Kidney transplants at SIUT, and Cancer treatment at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where each patient receives treatment worth approximately $100,000, fully funded by the Sindh government. 'These are not just hospitals,' the CM said. 'They are promises fulfilled - lifelines for future generations.' Referring to challenges arising after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the Chief Minister criticised attempts by the federal government to reclaim certain health institutions. 'Health is a provincial subject now,' he said, vowing to protect Sindh's jurisdiction and services from 'encroachments and land grabbers.' The Chief Minister concluded by thanking Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho for her leadership in transforming Sindh's healthcare system. He reaffirmed the government's commitment: 'The birth of a child should always be a moment of hope, not fear. Our mission is to ensure that no mother dies during childbirth, and every child receives the healthy start in life they deserve,' the CM said. Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal, addressing the ceremony, said, 'These are not just hospitals,' the CM said. 'They are promises fulfilled - lifelines for future generations.' Ambassador of Japan, Shoichi Okamoto, speaking on the occasion, said that the health facility was a gift from Japan to the people of Hyderabad Division. The ceremony ended with strong calls for continued collaboration between Sindh and Japan, reinforcing a shared dedication to human dignity, equity, and the well-being of every mother and child in the province. Those who spoke on the occasion: Health Secretary Rehan Baloch and Executive Director SICHN Prof Jamal Raza. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
30-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Three ecotourism projects planned
The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has initiated an ecotourism development programme at Changa Manga, Uchali Lake and Chashma Wetlands. The initiative, part of an Annual Development Programme (ADP) scheme funded by the provincial government, aims to establish environmentally responsible infrastructure that promotes nature-based tourism, wildlife conservation, and community engagement. According to official documents, the department has invited applications for pre-qualification from eligible contractors to undertake the development work. Firms licensed with the Pakistan Engineering Council and holding specific technical certifications are eligible to apply. Foreign companies may participate only in joint ventures with Pakistani firms. A mandatory requirement for all bidders is the engagement of an International ecotourism development specialist, who must remain involved throughout the project. Applicants are also required to demonstrate significant technical and financial credentials, including prior experience in large-scale infrastructure development, thematic recreational facilities such as safari parks or zoological gardens, and electrification works. The firms must show an average annual turnover of Rs4.5 billion over the last three years and have access to at least Rs3 billion in working capital or credit facilities. Companies engaged in the supply of wildlife must hold valid certifications from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the climate change ministry. This initiative designed in line with Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria marks the province's first structured push to blend conservation with tourism. Officials from the forests, wildlife and fisheries department emphasised that the sites had been chosen for their ecological importance.
Express Tribune
30-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pindi to get Rs150b infrastructure boost
The Punjab government has approved a record-breaking Rs150 billion development package for Rawalpindi under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2025-26the largest investment in the city's history. Aimed at resolving chronic traffic congestion, 13 major infrastructure projects will be executed by the Highway Division Rawalpindi to transform the city into a signal-free corridor. The initiative, aligned with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's vision of a modern Punjab, includes the construction of underpasses, flyovers, and road expansions across key intersections. Once completed, the corridor will provide uninterrupted travel from T-Chowk on GT Road through the cantonment areas, linking Peshawar Road and the motorways on one end, and Islamabad Expressway to Kachehri Chowk on the other. Engr Raja Qamarul Islam, MNA and Chairman of the District Coordination Committee, stated that Rs29.9 billion worth of new schemes would significantly improve travel flow across Rawalpindi. Key allocations include: Race Course Underpass – Rs2.6 billion (Rs54 million released), Chairing Cross Underpass – Rs1.5 billion (Rs54 million released), Army Graveyard Chowk Underpass – Rs1.9 billion (Rs68 million released), Kachehri Chowk Flyover & Underpass – Rs4.45 billion (Rs160 million released), Jinnah Park Flyover – Rs4.15 billion (Rs149 million released), Ammar Chowk Flyover – Rs3.45 billion (Rs124 million released), Iftikhar Janjua Road Underpass – Rs1.93 billion (Rs69 million released), COD Chowk Underpass – Rs3.75 billion (Rs135 million released), Tulsa Road Underpass (Adiala) – Rs1.69 billion (Rs61 million released). Rana Qamar Ali, Executive Engineer of the Highway Department, confirmed that site surveys and interdepartmental coordination have already begun. He added that six new underpasses are planned along Peshawar Road, while the GPO Underpass and Nawaz Sharif Flyover on Adiala Road are among the initial high-impact projects. The development drive also includes regional road rehabilitation, such as upgrades from Mahil Malkan to Dhoke Baba Buland in Kallar Syedan and widening roads from Akbar Chowk to Thalian and Marble Factory Road. Raja Qamarul Islam noted that Murree Road's decongestion through the Metro Bus Project offers a blueprint for success. He emphasized that new flyovers and underpasses will resolve bottlenecks at Kachehri Chowk, Ammar Chowk, and Jinnah Park, improving connectivity to Mall Road, Adiala Road, and beyond. CM Maryam Nawaz has directed all departments to ensure strict adherence to timelines and quality standards. The plan is expected to significantly boost economic activity by improving access to business districts and reducing logistics costs. President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Usman Shaukat, praised the initiative but stressed the need for pedestrian-friendly, climate-conscious designs. "This should not only ease traffic but also support sustainable urban living," he said. The Rawalpindi package, if successfully implemented, could serve as a model for similar urban upgrades across Punjab.
Express Tribune
26-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
CM orders uniform design of shops
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has issued directives to initiate by-laws to introduce a uniform design for shops across the province. She emphasised while presiding over a meeting that after the completion of the Punjab Development Programme, every city should look aesthetically up to the mark. The chief minister approved the programme for the development of 189 cities. It was agreed to constitute a Project Management Unit for the programme. Under the Punjab Development Programme, construction and development projects will be completed in the cities in collaboration with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Under the World Bank's Punjab Inclusive Cities Programme (PICP), 15 cities will be developed. Under the initiative, projects of 144 cities have been incorporated into the Annual Development Programme (ADP).
Business Recorder
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab budget reflects deliberate realignment of fiscal priorities?
LAHORE: The structure of the Punjab budget for FY 2025–26 reflects a deliberate and disciplined realignment of fiscal priorities. While curtailing non-essential current expenditure, the government has expanded development spending through the largest-ever Annual Development Programme (ADP) in Punjab's history, with 47.3% increase over previous year's ADP. This expansion has been made possible through robust public financial management reforms, including but not limited to the successful retirement of unsustainable commodity operations debt. As per budget document, this year's budget reflects a strategic shift from foundational infrastructure to transformative development. While the first year focused on road connectivity and basic service delivery, FY 2025–26 marks the next logical step i.e., empowering communities through integrated urban development and rural uplift. Transport has emerged as a key priority with a focus on expanding eco-friendly public mobility options, including the introduction of electric buses to reduce urban congestion and environmental impact. The Punjab government has also placed unprecedented emphasis on education—expanding access through scholarships, laptops, school meals, and higher education grants. Health remains a cornerstone, with flagship health initiatives such as Medical City, free medicine, and new centres for cancer and cardiac care. New frontiers in IT, affordable Housing and Climate Action signal the province's ambition to build an inclusive, forward-looking economy, the budget document reveals. On the other hand, the Punjab government, in view of its rapidly increasing annual pension expense and burgeoning accrued pension liabilities accorded approval of the Defined Contribution Pension Scheme. Under the scheme, employees would be contributing for its pension contrary to the defined benefit scheme where government finances solely to the pension. This would significantly reduce the piling of accrued liability, and this has been enacted for the employees joining the government service on or after January 08, 2024. Moreover, the Punjab government has implemented the deregulation of commodity operations of wheat which previously was financed through commercial borrowing from the financial institutions. The scheme had accumulated a circular debt of Rs 629 billion outstanding at June 2022 due to unfunded general subsidy expenditure. The government has eliminated this debt from provincial revenues leading to reduction of commodity debt outstanding down to Rs 13.9 billion at April`25, which is fully backed by the wheat stock leveraging the saving of future debt service in the range of approximately Rs 50 billion per annum. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
