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PM Shehbaz hands over Rs 10 mln cheque to nurse who saved newborn during PIMS fire

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met nurse Razia Noreen, who saved a newborn’s life during a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), and handed over Rs 10 million cheque in recognition of her extraordinary bravery and sense of duty.

The prime minister said the nation acknowledged the courage and bravery shown by Razia Noreen and that she was a source of pride for the country. He said she performed her duty with great courage and daring, without taking care of her own safety.

He said the mother of the child, she saved, would remember her in prayers for the rest of her life. The prime minister announced that Razia Noreen would be conferred the Tamgha-e-Khidmat on March 23 in recognition of her services.

He said that while the monetary reward carried its own meaning, the real recognition was that she truly deserved this honour.

The prime minister said that all those responsible for the fire incident at PIMS would face strict action, and that the government would make every effort in this regard. He said he had asked the concerned federal minister to fully review the hospital and ensure proper restructuring of the facility. In her remarks, Razia Noreen said she was carrying out her responsibility, as people had entrusted the children to her at that moment and that responsibility rested on her shoulders.

She said that she was happy to receive such recognition and considered herself a role model for all nurses, adding that her fellow nurses work with the same dedication and hard work. She said it was a heartrending incident and that she had tried to save as many other children as possible, but due to the emergency situation she was able to save only one child.

Razia Noreen said that on seeing the fire, she did not think of anything and went straight inside. She stated that she instructed another nurse to save the children, who in turn helped rescue people from outside, including postnatal mothers, some of whom had undergone operations.

She said she rescued a very small baby, the child of Asifa, weighing 1050 grams, and brought him outside. She said that in the resulting rush, a baby could get misplaced, so she handed the child to someone she knew and trusted, identifying the person as Dr Abdul Rehman.

She said she then went back inside to save another child when a blast occurred, followed by darkness and smoke spreading throughout the area. Federal Ministers Syed Mustafa Kamal and Attaullah Tarar were also present on the occasion.

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Health minister orders probe into Sindh MDCAT complaints

ISLAMABAD:Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has taken notice of alleged irregularities in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) held in Sindh and ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the complaints.

According to official sources, the minister directed a five-member committee, including the President of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), to conduct a transparent investigation and submit its report within 15 days.

The committee has been tasked with examining the complaints and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the alleged irregularities during the examination, sources said.

The minister directed the committee to complete the inquiry within the stipulated timeframe and present its findings for further action in accordance with the applicable rules.

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CDA chairman directs faster work on Expressway East project

ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Sohail Ashraf has directed officials to accelerate work on the Islamabad Expressway Service Road East project while ensuring strict compliance with approved designs and construction standards.

During an inspection of the project on Saturday, the chairman reviewed progress and was briefed on ongoing works and the next phase of development.

He directed the project director and relevant departments to maintain continuous field monitoring and quality control and ensure effective traffic management to minimise inconvenience to commuters.

The chairman described the Expressway East project as an important infrastructure scheme for improving connectivity, traffic flow and road capacity in the capital. He also stressed that construction quality should not be compromised in efforts to meet the project timeline.

During the visit, he was also briefed on an ongoing enforcement operation against unauthorised and illegal construction along the Islamabad Expressway.

According to the CDA, 377 buildings have been identified for action, including 281 commercial structures. So far, 58 buildings have been sealed, while 124 buildings between Sohan and Khanna bridges have been marked for demolition.

The authority said Rs234.685 million had been recovered through land-use conversion, unauthorised construction and de-sealing charges. Around Rs3 billion remained recoverable under applicable regulations in connection with land-use conversion and violations relating to unauthorised construction, setbacks, floor area ratio and covered area.

The chairman directed the relevant departments to ensure strict enforcement of building-control and land-use regulations, particularly mandatory fire-safety requirements.

The enforcement operation is being conducted by the CDA’s Building Control Section and Enforcement Directorate in coordination with the district administration and Islamabad police.

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GB ministers call on Governor Kundi

PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday held a meeting with a delegation of Gilgit-Baltistan ministers at the Governor’s House here and discussed the country’s political situation and other matters of mutual interest.

The delegation comprised Gilgit-Baltistan Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Zulfiqar Ali Murad, Minister for Health Iqbal Hassan and Minister for Education Aman Ali Ameer.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the prevailing political situation in the country and various issues of mutual interest. They also discussed the recent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Pakistan Peoples Party’s success in the polls.

The visiting ministers were taken on a tour of the Governor’s House. Governor Kundi presented them with traditional shawls and caps.