Daily Times

The Sindh government has decided to set up two satellites of the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) in Thar and Mirpur Khas.

A meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah decided to establish a governing board of the NICH on the pattern of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD).

Murad said his government would run the NICH in the best way, and directed the authorities to establish the first satellite of the NICH in Thar district.

He expressed the government’s intention to provide best health and nutrition facilities to the children of Tharparkar region. The meeting also decided to establish second affiliate of the NICH in Mirpur Khas.

The meeting also approved promotions of 43 qualified employees of the child health institute. Moreover, the session approved creation of 150 new vacancies for the NICH.

The session also decided to establish a committee for residential flats of the institute’s staff under the supervision of the provincial health secretary. It also decided to get the quarter bungalows of the NICH free from the illegal occupation.

It is to mention here that the federal government on July 6 decided to hand over the control of three major hospitals of Karachi back to the Sindh government.

The Centre said that it was unable to run the administrative control of NICVD, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and the NICH in Karachi due to the financial constraints.

Earlier, the Ministry of National Health had issued a notification to take administrative control of the three major government health institutions in Sindh.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan in a judgment had handed over the control of the three major public sector hospitals to the federal government.

Meanwhile Murad hosted a reception for spiritual leader of Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin at the CM’s House.

The reception was attended by Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Humayun Aziz, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Karachi Commander Vice Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, Rangers DG Major General Omer Khan Bukhari, COMKAR, provincial cabinet members Hari Ram, Shabir Bijaranai, Saeed Ghani, Imtiaz Shaikh, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Murtaza Baloch, Shahla Raza, Murtaza Wahab, Special Assistant to CM Waqar Mehdi, IG Sindh Dr Kaleem Imam, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro and others.

The chief minister thanked Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin for visiting Karachi. “We still remember your last visit during Muharramul Haram,” he said, and added, “It is manifestation of your [Syedna] confidence in provincial government that you took another visit.”

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin that the provincial government for welcoming him with open arms. On the occasion, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin offered dua for peace and prosperity of Pakistan and province of Sindh and its people.