PERVAIZ Elahi, the former Punjab chief minister, initiated burns unit at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, which was ready to be inaugurated during his tenure.

However, the government later changed and the present chief minister took charge of the province. The burns unit is now complete but the present chief minister is reluctant to inaugurate it just because its credit will go to Pervaiz Elahi.

Many people have lost their lives because the other burns units in the hospitals are unable to treat serious burns patients. On the other hand, the costly machinery is also depreciating, which is a waste of public money. The delay in inauguration of the unit is deplorable.

I request the provincial government to inaugurate the burns unit without further delay so that precious lives may be saved. It is a public welfare project and has been built with public money.

It is the right of the people which must be returned to the people with all its benefits.

Naveed Tahir

Lahore

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2016