KARACHI, Jan 10: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday laid the foundation stone of Rs2.5 billion state-of-the-art Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Accident, Emergency and Trauma Centre at the Civil Hospital, declaring that it will be completed within two years.

Addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony, the prime minister said that the cost of its establishment would be equally shared by the federal and provincial governments.

He said the trauma centre was part of the emergency preparedness mechanism being implemented by the Pakistan People’s Party-led government in accordance with the party’s manifesto and vision of Ms Bhutto.

He said that such centres should be established all over the country to provide immediate treatment to the victims of rail and road accidents, natural disasters, suicide attacks and blasts.

He noted that this was the single largest hospital project being undertaken in the last two decades jointly by the federal and Sindh governments, saying that the project would benefit a vast majority of people with modern facilities and care without any discrimination.

The prime minister said: “We are cognisant of the fact that emergency management in the country requires knowledge and information on hazard identification, risk assessment as well as linkages between disaster preparedness.

“The role of the health sector in emergencies is highly significant as doctors and paramedical staff play a key role in saving lives and mitigating effects of disasters,” he emphasised.

Mr Gilani said that Pakistan was exposed to natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, landslides, droughts, communicable diseases and currently it was facing suicide bombings and attacks. The nation had always dealt with such disasters with courage and determination, he added.

He pointed out that a large number of people were killed and injured in thousands of road accidents every year in the country. The majority of victims in these accidents were in productive age group, causing an immense economic loss to their families that also created social problems sometimes, he remarked.

Highlighting the need for transforming natural disasters into opportunities, he said that enormous resources were spent to meet disasters but little attention was paid to the psychological effects of the horrific incidents on human minds. He said that there was a need for promoting research of various forms in that field in order to provide necessary relief to the victims.

Mr Gilani hoped that the project would also lay emphasis on research and development besides offering emergency services to patients.—APP