MUZAFFARGARH: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated on Thursday the upgraded Tika Hospital through a video link at a ceremony presided over by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here in Muzaffargarh district.

The 100-bed hospital has been upgraded to 500 beds.

In 2010, Mr Erdogan had visited here after super floods and announced establishment of a Turkish Colony comprising 1,274 houses with all facilities and a hospital.

Last year, when the hospital was inaugurated, it was named Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital.

Addressing the people through video link, Erdogan said: “Turkey is helping people of those countries who are helpless. Turkey is a friend of Pakistan and it has helped Syrian and Egyptian people as well.”

Sources said when the Turkish hospital became functional, daily 1,200 to 2,500 patients would visit it and the district administration had started a free bus service.

They said Turkey had set up Emmene Erdogan Danish school here in Baseera Town where bright students of poor families were getting free education.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said he had met patients and asked about their problems and treatment and “I am satisfied with the arrangements”.

He said the hospital would be upgraded to a medical college and nursing institute and funds for the purpose would be allocated in July this year.

He said the hospital was being run under the Indus Trust. He said soon Samina Erdogan School would be inaugurated for poor children.

Turkish Ambassador Mr Babur said promises of Recep Tayyip Erdogan had been fulfilled.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2015

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