Metro vs basic needs

E-Paper | March 14, 2026

THE Economic Survey has revealed terrible conditions in the health sector. With a total of 1,142 hospitals, 5,499 dispensaries, 5,438 Basic Health Units (BHUs) and 669 Rural Health Centres (RHCs), the government is claiming its historic success.

I am surprised to see these figures. If we assume that our population is 200m, it turns out one hospital for 175,131 persons and one dispensary for 36,370 persons.

Rural areas present a grimmer situation where over 70pc of our population lives, but the availability of just 669 health centres and 5,438 BHUs shows the government’s criminal negligence in the health sector. The total expenditure during fiscal year 2014-15 was shamefully as low as Rs114bn, which is 0.4pc of total GDP.

Contrary to this, a sum of Rs80 billion was wasted on the 24km-long track of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus service, while the Punjab government is planning to launch a metro train in Lahore.

On the other hand, there is only one cardiology hospital in Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura , Okara, Pakpatan and Sahiwal districts.

We have to travel for about five hours to reach the hospital.

The government should think about people, not about its vote bank.

Aftab Hussain Wahla

Okara

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Newspaper

AI algorithms have anti-Muslim biases

Pesco blues

University affairs

Javed Sasoli

Jun 13, 2015 08:40am

Poor people have intentionally been deprived from basic needs in Pakistan since its inception. From health to education nothing is given in its appropriate proportion to the poor masses.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Chery Master Pakistan expands nationwide 3S dealership network: 10 operational, 20 planned by 2027

The nationwide dealership network includes 8 dealerships across six major cities, with two additional dealerships launching in the coming month, expanding the network to 10 dealerships nationwide.

Cardiogen and the molecular language of cardiac renewal: A speculative exploration

This article explores Cardiogen’s molecular characteristics, theorised mechanisms of action and its possible relevance across multiple research domains.

Master MoltyFoam’s Women’s Day initiative supports the next generation of female athletes

This year, Master MoltyFoam used the occasion to highlight the importance of support in sports by launching an initiative focused on encouraging young female athletes in Pakistan.