Daily Times

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, under the banner of Vision Sindh, on Thursday toured various areas of the province to showcase the development initiatives undertaken by the PPP government over the past 15 years through pictorial and video representations on a big screen at the Auditorium of the provincial assembly to the participants.

The members of civil society, representatives of chambers of trade and commerce, media houses and their associations such as APNS, PBS and CPNE, religious leaders of different faiths, provincial ministers, Chief Secretary, IG Police and secretaries of various departments attended the first ever such an elaborated and comprehensive presentation.

The chief minister stated that the total power generation based on Thar coal was 3240 MW. He provided a breakdown, explaining that Thar Coal Block-I, which was installed for $2 billion, generates 1320 MW. Thar Coal Block-II has generated 660 MW since July 2019. Thar Energy Limited has been generating 330 MW since September 2022. Thal Nova Power Thar Limited has been generating 330 MW since February 2023, and Lucky Electric Power at Port Qasim has been generating 660 MW since March 2022.

Murad Shah mentioned that Thar Block 1 and II alone would ensure the energy security of the country by generating power from local resources, saving foreign exchange.

The CM also mentioned that the ongoing projects, including Coal to Gas fertilizer, Keti Bandar Park of 10,000 MW, and Dhabeji Special Economic Zones, would help ensure the economic security of the country once they are commissioned.

Shah discussed the flood protection (FP) Bund, which stretches from Sehwan to Chhukhi along the boundary of Sindh on the Right Bank of River Indus. This serves as the primary line of defense against hill torrents from the Khirthar Range for the Right Bank of River Indus in Sindh. The Bund was renovated after the 2022 floods, with the top rehabilitated and new stone pitching provided on the waterside for added protection.

The CM said that the capacity of the Danister Tail Regulator, taluka Sewhan, was 1,500 cusecs which was enhanced by constructing the new Danister Tail Regulator upto 6,000 cusecs. With the capacity enhancement of the Danister Aral head regulator, the flood discharge capacity of Manchhar to the Indus River has been enhanced from 37,000 cusecs to 83,000 cusecs.

Murad Ali Shah said that government had constructed 113 Small Recharge and Delay Action Dams and the construction of 18 Small Dams was in progress in Nagarparkar and Kohistan. Bedside this, nine Tarrai were also ongoing in Taluka Chacharo of Tharparkar. He added that these structures would store/retain Rainwater from the hill torrents of Karoonjhar and Khirthar Hills cultivate about 512,360 acres of land and provide water for drinking purposes to people and livestock.

During his presentation, Murad Shah showcased the damage to various newly constructed roads caused by the 2022 floods. Some of these affected roads are the 6.45 km stretch from Pithoro to Girhor Shareef, the road from Tharparkar, Netaveri to Dohharo, and the road from Jhudo to Ahmed Jatt.

The chief minister stated that numerous damaged schools were reconstructed or rehabilitated after the 2022 floods and he displayed their photographs. Some of the rehabilitated schools include Khaliq Colony Larkana, Boys Primary School Ali Murad Chandio in Tando Moahmmad Khan, Boys School in Kallar Machhi, Sehwan, and many others.

Murad Ali Shah discussed the construction of houses for those affected by the floods, mentioning that out of the rural population of 23 million, the focus is on reconstructing houses for 14 million individuals. He revealed that the number of project beneficiaries, at 15 million, exceeds the population of 154 countries worldwide.

The CM provided an update on the housing project, stating that validation of 2 million houses has been completed, 805,000 bank accounts have been opened, funds have been provided to 555,000 affected people, 373,000 houses have reached the post-plinth level, and 150,000 houses have been fully constructed.

Shah disclosed that Rs112 billion has been secured for the construction of 2.1 million houses, with an assurance of Rs548 billion.

Addressing the impact of the largest housing initiative in the world, the CM noted that it has bolstered women’s empowerment, generated over one million jobs, and facilitated financial inclusion through 2 million bank accounts.

During the presentation, two documentaries were screened – one featuring Noor Khatoon from Thatta district, showcasing the process from receiving the first instalment to the completion of a resilient house, and another highlighting the transparent Management Information System (MIS) process, including tracking of each beneficiary in real-time.

The Chief Minister said that the biggest achievement of his government’s partnership with Child Life Foundation was that today every child in Sindh is within 30 minutes of world-class emergency care – 24/7 – free of charge. He added that the model includes Modern Emergency Rooms in nine teaching hospitals of the province that are in Karachi, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana and Sukkur. Tele-medicine network covering all Tehsils of Sindh where 24/7 consultation is provided by a Pediatric Specialist

Talking about the tangible impact, the CM said that more than one million children were provided emergency care in 2023-24.

Quoting a USA-based independent research report, the CM said that the mortality of critically ill pediatric patients coming to Sindh’s Emergency Rooms was much lower than in 19 similar countries (1.2pc vs 6.3pc). He said that for synergy, Child Life has partnered with other organizations such as NICVD, SIUT, SIEHS, PPHI, and Indus Hospital for greater impact.

Shah said that high-quality pediatric emergency room mortality significantly reduced across the province.

Talking about NICVD/SICVD, the chief minister said, it has established 29 chest pain units across the province, including 19 in Karachi, and 10 in rural areas of Sindh. He added that four new chest pain units would be added to the network including one at Nooriabad, Dadu, Shahdadkot and Islamkot.

He said that under Stroke Intervention Program at NICVD Karachi, Tando Mohammad Khan and Sukkur over 300 stroke intervention procedures have been done so far, totally free of cost.

According to Shah, Mobile Diagnostic and Emergency Healthcare provides emergency healthcare services including laboratory testing and medicines; 26 Mobile Healthcare Units in the directorate of Mobile Diagnostic and Emergency Healthcare Directorate, and another 10 Mobile Units in the project. He said that the covering Districts were Tharparkar, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, Sanghar, Umerkot, Jamshoro, Dadu, Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacbobad, Tando Mohammad Khan, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazeerabad, Noshero Feroze and Khairpur.

The CM said that 26 Mobile Units of the Directorate have treated 2,570,612 patients and conducted 549,013 medical tests in the last 5 years. 10 mobile units of the project have treated 93542 patients and conducted 27297 medical tests in the last year. These Mobile Healthcare Units were also instrumental in COVID-19 and flood / Rain emergencies. Four more Mobile Healthcare Units will be added this year.

Talking about JPMC, Murad Ali Shah said that in 2018, 550 bedded Surgical Complex and OPD, 120 bedded Psychiatry ward and OPD, 110 bedded neurology ward and OPD, New Ophthalmology OPD, Jinnah food complex, Extension of Emergency, Renovation of Neurosurgery, Morgue and Jamia Masjid were constructed/established.

The CM said that the equipment provided to JPMC includes two Cyberknife Units, Two Tomotherapy Units, an upgradation of Cobalt to Equinox, Radiology CT & MRI, Digital Mammography, Lithotripsy facility, Upgradation of Dialysis facility, Lab computerization and Surgical Robot.

Shah also disclosed that he created 2025 new vacancies for doctors, nurses and paramedics and enhanced postgraduate slots to 803 and 650 house jobs.

Murad Ali Shah told the audience that his government in collaboration with the Patients Aid would establish a new 12 storied 600 bedded fully equipped Medical Tower with MICU, CCU, Cath Labs, Endoscopy and a dedicated Medical OPD Complex.

We would also establish a new six-storied Officers Ward with 60 fully equipped private rooms. New 10 storied fully equipped Accident & Emergency/Trauma Complex with dedicated Operation Theatres, Imaging section.

Upgradation of Old Blood Bank building & renovation of Lab, Dental, Faciomaxillary and Plastic Surgery Units with dedicated Operation Theatres. Expansion of Radiation Oncology facility with upcoming cutting-edge technologies. Second Surgical Robot. PACS & HIMS with Artificial Intelligence for recording & research of patient data is also part of the plan.

The CM said that SIUT’s journey transformation has achieved many milestones in Urology, Nephrology and transplant. He added that a comprehensive healthcare system with 1500 beds, 82 departments and 3943 employees was in place. Shah said that SIUT’s eight centres were serving in Karachi, and the other four centres include two in Sukkur, Larkana and Shikarpur. He disclosed that from 2011 to 2024 3.7 million patients from all over Pakistan have been benefited.