ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: The Indian medical delegation, which arrived in the capital ahead of the forthcoming 12th Saarc summit, on Tuesday visited the Capital Hospital to assess the available facilities.
The Capital Hospital, being run by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), has been selected to provide health cover to the heads of states during the summit.
Earlier, the Capital Hospital had provided emergency medical cover to the delegates of the recently-held ministerial conference of the Organization of Islamic Countries.
The Indian delegation, led by Prof (Dr) Qureshi, along with representatives of the ministry of health and Pakistan Army went round the hospital and inspected the OPD, pathology laboratory, physiotherapy department, emergency department, facilities in resuscitation, operation theatre, postoperative recovery room, postoperative intensive care unit, blood bank, hospital-based coronary care unit and the mobile coronary unit.
The spokesman for the CDA said the delegation expressed satisfaction over the hospital environment and available facilities as well as the level of readiness to meet any medical emergency.
He said separate arrangements had been made in the OPD and the hospital’s emergency department for the Saarc summit.
“Three VVIP and five VIP rooms have been reserved from January 1 to 7 for the delegates,” he added.
The CDA spokesman said in addition to the facilities being made available at the hospital, the Capital Hospital had established medical centres at a local hotel as well as in the Punjab House where medical cover would be available round-the- clock.
SECURITY TEAM DUE TODAY: A five-member team of Indian security officials is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss security plan chalked out by Pakistani authorities for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the Saarc summit, an official source said.
The Indian team comprises a military, three police officials, including a DIG, and an air force adviser.
Pakistan has already allowed the Indian government to bring their security personnel and bullet-proof cars for their prime minister and his delegation.
It is also expected that the Indians will bring a helicopter for aerial surveillance, the source added.
Islamabad boosted security measures to the highest level on Tuesday ahead of the Saarc summit which opens on January 4.
Rangers, Frontier constabulary, Punjab constabulary and police personnel have been deployed in 30 entry, exit points, on a number of roads and at vital installations, mainly around the hotels where Indian and Bangladeshi prime ministers will stay.
Three control rooms have been set up, one each at the interior ministry, Convention Centre and the Aabpara police station, to monitor security and Saarc-related activities.
Meanwhile, the services of three officials of the Federal Investigation Agency have also been acquired by the Islamabad police to further strengthen security measures.