GUJRAT: Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif on Sunday inaugurated Maj Shabbir Sharif Shaheed Hospital at his native Kunjah Town near Gujrat.

The hospital has been established by the Punjab government on the recommendation of the army chief. It has been upgraded to the THQ hospital level with 60 beds at a cost of Rs360 million.

Chief Minister’s Adviser on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique represented the Punjab government at the ceremony. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif could not attend the ceremony due to health reasons. Initially some 50 notables from various walks of life were invited by the district government but the invitations were cancelled at the eleventh hour due to security concerns.

Gen Sharif went to the bed of every patient and inquired after their health.

A delegation urged the COAS, who is set to retire on Nov 29, to establish a cadet college in his hometown. The army chief, sources said, assured them that their demand would be met.

Gen Sharif also visited his ancestral graveyard and offered fateha at the graves of his grandfather Mian Mehtab Din and grandmother. The project was launched with an initial allocation of Rs190 million and the estimate was revised thrice.

Published in Dawn November 28th, 2016