LAHORE: Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Multan on Wednesday and inaugurated different health projects completed at a cost of Rs. 5.5 billion. On reaching the district, the Chief Minister visited the newly established premises of the Government Shehbaz Sharif District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. After inaugurating the building, he left for the inauguration ceremony of the new block of the Children’s Hospital and the Institute of Child Health where 150 beds have been added. Later, Sharif inaugurated a state-of-the-art burn unit at Nishtar Hospital and a regional blood centre along with the Multan Institute of Kidney Diseases, the largest facility of its kind in southern Punjab. The Chief Minister also inaugurated a blood testing laboratory, a medicine warehouse and a cold chain store. Talking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that resources worth billions of rupees had been provided for quality healthcare facilities, adding that Multan’s DHQ Hospital will provide best treatment facilities to patients. “My mission has been to ensure improvements in healthcare facilities. I shall not sit idle till the accomplishment of this agenda,” he said. The Chief Minister inspected different sections, wards and operation theaters after the inauguration of Children Hospital. He inquired after the health of different children admitted there. Talking on the occasion, he said, “With the addition of 150 beds in the Children Hospital, the people of southern Punjab will not have to go to other districts for the treatment of their children as latest healthcare facilities have been provided in Children Hospital.” He said that standard of healthcare facilities is being further improved in the southern Punjab and no dearth of resources will ever hamper this important agenda. The resources have been utilised to serve the ailing humanity. The Chief Minister directed to further improve the condition of cleanliness in Children Hospital and made it clear that no compromise will be made on the issue of cleanliness. Addressing a gathering at Kidney Centre, Sharif said that he had inaugurated different health projects completed with Rs5.5 billion. “I have inaugurated drug testing lab in Multan and the staff of this lab has been given training from Turkey,” he added, “I have also inaugurated a center and warehouse which has been established under a new system introduced for procurement and distribution of medicines.” He said that 40 dialysis machines are available in the kidney centre. “I announce to provide 100 more dialysis machines here. These machines will be purchased immediately and if these are not available in Pakistan, then these will be arranged through air freight. “There is a lack of heart surgeons. I will ask the administration to immediately arrange expert doctors for pediatric heart surgery. I will give them two weeks to fill vacancies.” Separately, the Chief Minister expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the sad demise of senior journalist and chief editor of Balochistan Express Sadique Baloch. In his condolence message, the Chief Minister prayed for his soul and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family. Published in Daily Times, February 8th2018.