LAHORE: Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi along with federal minister Gohar Ejaz inaugurated the new 150-bed emergency ward of the Jinnah Hospital on Sunday.

He inspected the intensive care unit (ICU) and appreciated the steps being taken for the provision of the latest beds. He congratulated the team on the completion of the project.

Mr Naqvi also inspected the new air-conditioned plant.

He was informed during a briefing that anti-bacterial paint was used to make the emergency block infection-free for the first time. Infection-free tiles have been installed in the operating theatres of the emergency block.

Visits Lahore Zoo, expresses annoyance at undemolished old structures

Talking to the media, the CM said five big hospitals of Punjab would be reopened in the coming days after their upgrade while the emergency departments the Children Hospital Multan, Nishtar-II, PIC Lahore and Mayo Hospital were being made functional. The DG Khan Cardiology Hospital is an old project, which was almost complete while the Indus Hospital was being donated to the Punjab government to run it as a cancer hospital. He appreciated the noble gesture of the Indus Hospital management for handing over a big hospital to the Punjab government.

“We want to run the cancer hospital in collaboration with the Indus Hospital. The Indus hospital is going to become the first complete cancer hospital of Punjab, which will carry a great burden of patients. Complete free treatment will be provided in the cancer hospital. So far, no cancer hospital is under the management of the Punjab government,” he said.

The CM added that the matters regarding the cancer hospital were in the last stage and they would be settled soon.

Federal Minister Gohar Ejaz also spoke while provincial ministers Dr Javed Akram, Amir Mir, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Mian Ahsan of Indus Hospital, Anwar Ghani, Fawad Mukhtar, the secretary health, the secretary C&W, commissioner Lahore Division, CCPO, MS Jinnah Hospital, Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College and officials concerned were also present.

Meanwhile, the CM paid a visit to the Lahore Zoo and reviewed its upgrade work and ongoing construction activities.

He expressed indignation over not demolishing old constructions and ordered their demolition. He grilled the authorities about the delay in carrying out the assigned task regarding the timely demolition of old constructions.

Mr Naqvi summoned the team of the Infrastructure Development Authority Punjab (IDAP) at the Lahore Zoo and stressed that the zoo should be seen as entirely new and unique. He issues directions for speeding up the process of bringing new animals to the zoo.

Mohsin Naqvi inspected the snake house, giraffe house, lion house, elephant house and fish house at the zoo. He directed the officials to make the cages of animals and birds spacious according to the international standards. He said special attention should be paid to the diet of lions and other animals and they should be looked after properly.

The CM was given a briefing by the Wildlife secretary and DG about the upgrade plan of the zoo. The secretary C&W, DG PHA, deputy commissioner and officials concerned were also present.

Published in Dawn, january 1st, 2024