04 December 2004	Saturday	21 Shawwal 1425

KARACHI, Dec 3: The second biggest cardiovascular hospital of Karachi, located in Federal B Area, is in the advance stage of completion and will start functioning by the end of next month.

Besides, first-aid centres will be set up at eight different locations in the city with the cooperation of other hospitals for providing immediate aid to heart patients. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of City Nazim Niamatullah Khan here on Friday.

The meeting was attended by Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan, DCO Fazlur Rehman, Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, Project Director Dr Abdul Samad and others. The meeting was informed that necessary equipment for the hospital have arrived.

It would take about a month to install the equipment and as much time to appointment the necessary staff. It was, therefore, decided that the hospital be inaugurated on January 28, 2005. Initially, the staff will be appointed on ad-hoc basis from other hospitals and later the appointment process will be completed as per the laid down rules and regulations.

The city nazim stressed that all appointments be held on merit basis. He cautioned that ignoring merit would amount to playing with the lives of patients. "Transparency and merit is the characteristic of the city government and it has been maintained in all stages," the nazim pointed out.

It was decided that eight first-aid centres would be set up with the cooperation of hospitals in various parts of the city so that patients suffering from heart problem could be provided emergency treatment. Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid appreciated the services of Niamatullah Khan for the development work in the city.

SIGNAL PROJECT: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan on Friday laid the foundation stone of a project of traffic signals at Yasinabad intersection. Installation of signals at this intersection, connecting Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Azizabad at one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city, would be completed in four months.

EDO Transport Dr Tahir Soomro informed the nazim on the occasion that at present 118 traffic signals were functioning under the control of the city government, the rest being in the jurisdictions of the DHA, KPT, Civil Aviation and other organizations.

Dr Soomro told him that all signals under the city government's control were in good working condition and inspected daily by a traffic engineer. He said that the traffic signals were temporarily turned off for various reasons e.g. facilitating movement of VIPs' vehicles, controlling traffic flow manually during heavy pressure, etc. Another reason for the signals going inoperative was power failure, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the city nazim has accorded approval to a project of construction and widening of the road between Hotel Regency and Cantonment Station. He directed the works and services department to initiate work on the project, which includes provision for rain water drain passing alongside the road. The project would cost Rs2.6 million for which tenders have been invited.

SPEECH CONTEST: On the directive of City Nazim Niamatullah Khan, speech contests are being organized for the students of various private schools in the city in collaboration with the Pakistan Ideology Foundation.

Each school would be represented by two students, one male and one female, in the contests to be held on the basis of existing towns. Forms for the programme will be available at all DOs (Education), as well as the offices of town and UC administrations from December 6 to 20.

The contests would be held from January 10 to 20, 2005 at 10 different places on the basis of former districts. There will be separate programmes for boys and girls and those winning first three positions will be given prizes at a ceremony on February 8. -APP/PPI