GUJRAT: At least 38,600 surgeries were performed in the operation theaters of the Rasheeda Shafi Trauma Centre of the Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital (ABSTH) in 2022.

Due to mounting pressure of emergency patients, the extension of trauma centre is already underway at a cost of Rs 30 million contributed by local philanthropists.

The trauma centre was set up around six years ago at a cost of Rs 130 million by the Rasheeda Shafi Foundation, says its chairman Imtiaz Kausar.

Speaking to journalists at the Gujrat Press Club on Wednesday, he said at least 700 emergency cases were handled daily whereas some 30 to 35 CT Scans were being done free of cost after the installation of a new machine.

Mr Kausar said his group of philanthropists had so far installed around 77 water filtration plants, mainly in Gujrat city as well as in the neighbouring towns of Kunjah, Shadiwal, Jalalpur Jattan and Fatehpur with each plant costing around Rs 1.4 million.

He said the group had set a target of establishing at least 150 filtration plants in Gujrat with expenditure of maintenance and changing the filters on a regular basis.

He commended the media for highlighting the efforts and work of philanthropists in Gujrat as a kidney centre had been established by local businessmen and expatriate Pakistanis.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2023