Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh for Information, Law & Anti Corruption Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said that NICVD had saved 5,000 human lives by providing improved health care facilities to them at their door step through chest pain units. Addressing inaugural ceremony of Chest Pain Unit in Landhi on Tuesday, he said that over 150,000 patients had benefited from the initiative. Since taking over control of NICVD by the Provincial Government back in 2010, improved health facilities had been provided to the people; health facilities being provided to the people of the province were much better and improved as compared to facilities being provided by the Federal Government which, he said, had recently raised drug prices. Barrister Murtaza Wahab further said that establishment of 8th Chest Pain unit in Landhi was a gift to the people of the area by the Government of Sindh. ‘ Pakistan Peoples Party pledges to expand health care program to far flung areas of the province,” he said and added that because of NICVD satellite facility, people were getting free of cost quality treatment near their towns and they were no more visiting Karachi for heart related treatment. He said that Sindh government was also planning to expand National Institute of Child Health (NICH) throughout province on the model of NICVD . Talking to newsmen, he said that negative campaign has been started against the NICVD to tarnish its image. To a question, he said that Fawad Choudhary was a citizen of Pakistan we will welcome him to visit Sindh and serve the people of the province. But if he is visiting Sindh as viceroy for hatching conspiracies against the constitutional and democratic government, then it would not be tolerated. He said we would welcome Fawad to provide relief in gas and electricity load shedding and play his positive role in getting Sindh’s Rs. 90 billion released. He said that his government endorsed anti encroachment drive launched on the orders of apex court, but PPP also strongly believed in resettlement of affectees of encroachment. He said that we could resolve the resettlement issue provided that federal government releases Sindh’s due share in funds. To another question, he replied that PPP believed in accountability and added that accountability was responsibility of relevant institutions. “If accountability was carried out for the sake of achieving political goals, then we would not accept it, ” he said. Earlier, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar addressing the inaugural ceremony of Chest Pain Unit, said that performance of NICVD was commendable adding that chest pain units remained successful in providing timely medical aid to citizens. He appreciated the Sindh government and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah for providing people this health service facility. He assured full support of Karachi Municipal Corporation and added, if we work together, better results could be achieved. On the occasion, executive director NICVD presented future plans of NICVD. Published in Daily Times, January 16th 2019.