ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has given lawyers the status of grade 18 officers with regards to treatment. The hospital has also announced that a counter will be set up dedicated to facilitating the lawyers.

According to a statement issued by Pims after orders from the Islamabad High Court, the hospital’s management has begun issuing special cards to lawyers for treatment.

The statement said a hundred cards have been handed over to lawyers, and Pims administrator Dr Altaf Hussain has said that lawyers had demanded that they should be given the status of grade 18 officers, and “finally it has been done”.

A Pims official requesting anonymity said that by giving lawyers the status of grade 18 officers they would be entitled to rooms for gazetted officers, and would also insist that they, along with their families, receive the local purchase facility.

The facility allows Pims to release funds to buy medicines in case of unavailable medicines or medical devices.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2017