Latest news with #AsadullahKhan
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
'Ageing pipes caused KU deluge'
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) Engineer Asadullah Khan released a detailed video statement addressing the causes and repair measures related to the burst water lines at Siphon 19 near the University of Karachi. He explained that the water lines in the area are several decades old, with one installed in 1956 and the other in 1971 - making them 69 and 54 years old, respectively. Their designated lifespans have long since expired. He stated that Siphon 19, located near Karachi University, has two 84-inch diameter PRCC (Pre-stressed Reinforced Concrete Cylinder) pipelines, one of which is 16,000 feet (approximately five kilometres) long. Siphon 19 begins at Saadi Town and extends to University Road. The COO noted that the U-shaped pipelines at the siphon increase water pressure significantly. Water flowing through these U-shaped sections generates much more pressure compared to straight conduit lines. As a result, the old and weakened pipes are unable to withstand the added pressure, causing them to burst. He clarified that the pipelines running from Dhabeji to Karachi are straight conduits and do not experience this increased pressure, which is why they remain intact. He further shared that the damaged PRCC line at Siphon 19 is being replaced with a mild steel (MS) pipe. To ensure durability, four tons of molten lead, heated to 300°C, will be poured on both ends of the pipe. The process is called lead pouring. He expressed hope that the repair work would be completed by Saturday evening, after which the water supply was expected to return to normal. He apologised to citizens for the inconvenience. Left parched Meanwhile, experts claimed that repairs of the seven-foot wide pipeline, initially expected by Saturday, were now likely to continue until Sunday. They said that even if, by any chance, KWSC manages to complete the repair work by Sunday an additional three-day period would be required for normalization of the water supply to the city.
Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
'Almost 20% of patients die due to hospital errors'
An alarming 18-20 per cent of hospitalised patients in the country lose their lives due to medical errors, negligence, misadministration of drugs, and deadly infections in the hospitals, experts have claimed. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare Conference to be hosted by Aga Khan University (AKU) in April and organised by Riphah Institute of Healthcare, leading healthcare professionals called for urgent reforms to improve patient safety in hospitals across the country. The press conference was addressed by Executive Director of Riphah International, Asadullah Khan, Executive Director of NICVD, Prof. Dr. Tahir Saghir, Chairman of Patient Safety, Dr. Zakiuddin, and Sayed Jamshed Ahmed. Dr. Zakiuddin, citing research from the Johns Hopkins Institute, stated that over 100,000 people die annually in the United States due to preventable medical errors. "In the US, the leading cause of death is heart disease, followed by cancer, while preventable medical errors are the third most common cause of deaths. This is a serious issue that requires immediate action," he emphasised. He further mentioned that the primary objective of the 8th International Patient Safety Conference in April, is to enhance patient safety and improving healthcare quality.
