LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PIN) at General Hospital on Monday. After the inauguration, he visited different wards and inquired after the health of the patients and asked about the availability of medical facilities. The patients expressed their satisfaction and thanked Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif for the A-class treatment facilities available in the hospital. “You are working day and night for improving the health sector and we are praying for your long life and health,” they added. The Punjab chief minister said that serving ailing humanity was the foremost agenda of the government and public’s right had been returned in shape of better facilities. “Improving the health sector according to international standards is my mission,” he said. The journey of transforming government-run hospitals according to international standards has been accelerated and prayers of the ailing humanity have further augmented my passion and commitment, he added. On the occasion, the CM was told that the 10-storey building of PIN has been constructed with a cost of Rs 3 billion. It’s a 500-bed facility including 100 emergency beds while two neuro-theatres will work round-the-clock to cope with emergencies. The eight operation theatres will provide different facilities under one roof and most modern three Tesla MRI and 128 slice CT scan machines have been installed as well. Biometric, infection-control, theatres’ automation and pharmacy management systems have been introduced in the PIN while round-the-clock CCTV monitoring system has been placed for continuous monitoring of cleanliness and security situation. Talking to the media-persons after the inauguration, the CM said that some sections of PIN were working for the last few months but this state-of-the-art institution has been fully operationalised today. As many as eight operation theatres have been set up which can be compared with any hospital of the developed world with regard to facilities and quality. Best doctors and other staff are available and pathology lab has also been established, he added. The pathology labs set up in DHQ hospitals by the Punjab government are no less than international standards but I am tremendously happy to see the state-of-the-art pathology lab in this institution, he said. Information Technology has been optimally utilised to develop the best system. This institution is an important achievement in the field of healthcare by the Punjab government, he added. The CM congratulated Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Health Secretary Najam Shah, Post Graduate Medical Institute Principal Professor Ghausul Nabi, project director Dr Khalid Mahmood and others and said that patients and their attendants are thankful for the establishment of this modern institution. He invited other provinces to visit and find out how state-of-the-art institutions are developed. These people have had made tall claims with regard to health sector but did nothing practically, he maintained. While replying to different questions of the media, the CM said that the recent United Nations Development Programme report is self explanatory as Punjab is leading other provinces with regard to development. “However, the journey is long and we have to reach to the destination by working day and night,” he said. To another question about load-shedding and energy projects, the CM said that duration of load-shedding had reached to 20 hours a day in 2013 and during this period, electricity remained unavailable even during the times of sehri, iftar and Namaz-e-Tarawih. The situation is diametrically opposed today with regard to load-shedding, he added. The darkness of load-shedding has rapidly depleted due to the continuous efforts of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government. He said that network of best hospitals has spread in the province and the latest institution has been set up in the provincial metropolis for the treatment of kidney and liver diseases. Similarly, six hospitals of 100-bed capacity each have been constructed in Kahana Nau, Bedian, Raiwind, Sabzazar and other areas. These details should be highlighted and the people should be apprised about the facts, concluded the CM. Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat and Member of National Assembly Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani called on the PML-N president on Monday. They reposed complete confidence on the leadership of PML-N president and congratulated him over the successful test run of Orange Line Metro Train. Minister Pir Aminul Hasnat said that strenuous efforts have been made by the CM for prosperity of the people and the masses living in other provinces acknowledge and appreciate unusual achievements of Shehbaz Sharif. MNA Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said that unprecedented development has been made in rural areas under the leadership of Sharif and the project of construction of rural roads has proved a game-changer for the rural economy. Federal Minister for Education & Professional Training Muhammad Balighur Rahman also called on the Punjab CM on Monday. Published in Daily Times, May 22nd 2018.