GUJRAT: Deputy Commissioner Dr Khurram Shahzad on Thursday inaugurated a shelter home, Ehsaas Ghar, at the Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital (ABSTH) for patients’ attendants.

It will house at least 200 attendants of the patients admitted to the hospital. The two-storey building has been built by the government as a public-private partnership project.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Shahzad said the project had been completed with Rs30m provided by Chaudhry Ijaz Warraich, a local businessman, and his family.

The first floor of the building is meant for men and the second floor is for women, with a two-time meal facility to be provided by the philanthropist.

The DC said the Social Welfare Department, the ABSTH and a representative of the philanthropists would jointly run the shelter home where facilities for the poor citizens like get clothes, shawls, bed sheets and other such items.

Muhammad Waqas, of the social welfare department, said nobody would be allowed to stay there during the daytime and the attendants could spend a night between 6pm to 9am next morning for the maximum number of three nights. He said security cameras had been installed in and outside of the building.

Gujrat Patients Welfare Association president Mian Muhammad Ijaz, trauma centre head Imtiaz Kausar, Ijaz Warraich and others also spoke.

No Holiday: The Mandi Bahauddin deputy commissioner has withdrawn his earlier notification of declaring Friday (Feb 18) as a local holiday in connection with the scheduled public meeting of Prime Minister Imran Khan in the town.

Now Friday is a working day as per routine in the district, says a fresh notification issued by DC Muhammad Shahid on Thursday.

A spokesman for the district administration told Dawn the decision to withdraw the local holiday had been taken in the public interest.

Meanwhile, the local authorities as well as the PTI chapter have finalised preparations at the Quaid-i-Azam Stadium where the PM will address a rally after laying foundation stone of mega uplift schemes worth Rs30 billion.

The PM will address after Friday prayers.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2022