MANSEHRA: Work on a 40-bed charity hospital in remote Karori union council of Oghi started here on Friday. The project is funded by Pakistanis living in Bahrain.

“On completion, this hospital will provide free health services to people in this backward area,” said Khan Mohammad Tanoli, a member of the executive council of the expatriates association of Bahrain, while speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the hospital on Friday.

Advisor to chief minister Abdul Haq, overseas Pakistanis, including Fakharul Islam, Abdul Salam and Abdul Rasheed Khaksar, and former MPA Zargul Khan also spoke at the ceremony.

“I know our women died on way to hospital during deliveries, and once this hospital got completed people will have quality health services,” said Mr Tanoli.

Mr Tanoli, who was part of the delegation accompanying the king of Bahrain who recently visited Pakistan, said Pakistanis settled abroad had been contributing to uplift of their country. He said that expatriate Pakistanis in Bahrain would establish ten such hospitals in remote areas of Tanawal.

Mr Tanoli said that King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Esa Al-Khalifa visited Pakistan, heeding a longstanding demand of expatriate Pakistanis.

Speaking on the occasion, CM’s advisor Abdul Haq said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government welcomed such positive gesture by expatriate Pakistanis. “The KP government would provide doctors, paramedical staff and medicines to the hospital,” he announced.

Mr Haq said the government was utilising all its resources to provide better health services and free medicines to patients.

Speaking on the occasion, Fakharul Islam Abdul Salam said they were going to spend $10 million on public welfare projects in the district.

Mr Islam said the hospital would provide services free of cost. “We are launching health and other projects in remote and backward areas to provide basic necessities of life to the neglected people,” he said.

Former MPA Zargul Khan lauded role of expatriates in development of their country. He also announced Rs0.5 million for the hospital.