20 January 2004	Tuesday	27 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 19: Sindh government has planned to reopen the Paramedical Institute of Karachi (PIK), which was closed down about three years back due to mismanagement in its affairs.

Official sources in the provincial government said that arrangements were being made to reactivate the PIK. As a first step towards reactivating the institute, Dr Suleman Otho had been appointed as PIK's principal, they added.

"Sindh health department is considering different proposals, submitted by the authorities concerned, to make itself sustainable so that no financial or administrative hurdle could impede its functions in future," sources added.

The PIK, which is the only institute in Karachi to train paramedics, was closed down three years back. At present, there is no institute in the mega city for people aspiring to join this field whereas two such institutes are working in other parts of the province.

There are small units in some major hospitals of Karachi, where paramedical staff of the concerned hospital is trained, but, there is none for the new comers in this field.

Sources said that the Paramedical Institute of Karachi would soon be equipped with the latest instruments and equipment to impart training on modern lines and five specialities would be made available for trainees.

They said that the PIK would offer one-year courses in ICU, ECG, radiology and lab techniques. Sources said that the PIK would hire services of experts from the related fields, who would deliver lectures at the institute. Besides, English and Computer Literacy would be part of the course to compete with international challenges. Officials said a committee wasformed to supervise the PIK affairs and to finalize all arrangements in this regard. -PPI