Bilawal Lays Foundation of 600-Bed Larkana Hospital
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday laid the foundation stone of the 600-bed Larkana hospital, promising free treatment for the people of the district and modern healthcare for underserved areas.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah joined him at the ceremony. The hospital is due to be completed in 2028.
Mr Bhutto-Zardari also reviewed development projects in the division and paid homage at his family mausoleum at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.
A 600-bed Larkana hospital the city has waited for
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said that after being elected MNA from Larkana, he met doctors at Chandka Hospital who were doing everything they could for patients. Chandka Hospital was built in the 1970s for the population of that time, he said, and also serves people from surrounding areas and other cities.
"I thought that if I got the opportunity, I would build a new hospital for the people of Larkana, and that dream has come true today," he said. He added that Larkana residents would also be offered treatment through the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT).
The new hospital will give free treatment to the people of Larkana and modern healthcare to people from underserved areas, he said.
Water, sewerage and education
Mr Bhutto-Zardari said he had visited Larkana University the day before and was pleased to see young people getting an education there. He said the Sindh government gives Rs45 billion to universities and is working to increase this support. "Such projects take time, but their benefits are long-term," he said.
Turning to civic services, the PPP leader said work had begun to revive and expand the Ratodero water supply scheme. He recalled that it was his mother who set up the project to serve the population, but it was later shut down.
He said Larkana city would get a complete water supply system with piped water to homes. Its sewerage system would also be upgraded to serve the next 25 years, and planning for sewerage works in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot was under way.
Larkana division projects reviewed
Mr Bhutto-Zardari also chaired a high-level meeting on development projects in Larkana Division at Bhutto House, Naudero. Secretary Public Health Engineering Sohail Qureshi told the meeting that the feasibility study for the Larkana water supply, sewerage and rainwater drainage project was complete.
Mr Qureshi said the project would bring clean drinking water to every household in the city and would be finished within two years. He added that 50 per cent of the Shahdadkot sewerage scheme was done and the rest would be finished next year.
Secretary Agriculture Zaman Narejo and Deputy Commissioner Tariq Manzoor Chandio briefed the participants on the relocation of the fruit and vegetable market.
The hospital's project director, Yasir Bhatti, gave Mr Bhutto-Zardari and Mr Shah a detailed briefing on the project. Those at the ceremony included Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, PPP Sindh President Nisar Khuhro, MPAs Jamil Ahmed Soomro and Sohail Anwar Siyal, MNA Khurshid Ahmed Junejo and District Council Chairman Aijaz Ahmed Leghari.
Visit to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh
Mr Bhutto-Zardari also visited his family's mausoleum at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. He laid floral wreaths and offered Fateha at the graves of his grandparents, Zulfikar and Nusrat Bhutto, and his mother Benazir. He also offered Fateha at the graves of his uncles, Murtaza and Shahnawaz Bhutto.
Health services remain under pressure across the country, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rolling out mobile drug testing labs this week to catch substandard medicines. Punjab has also announced a smart syllabus for school classes, easing the burden on families. Dengue cases have risen in the twin cities, adding to the load on hospitals.
Frequently asked questions
What hospital is being built in Larkana?
A 600-bed hospital is being built in Larkana. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari laid its foundation stone on Friday, and it is due to be completed in 2028.
Will treatment be free?
Yes. The hospital will give free treatment to the people of Larkana and modern healthcare to people from underserved areas. Larkana residents will also be offered treatment through SIUT.
Why does Larkana need a new hospital?
Chandka Hospital was built in the 1970s for the population of that time and now serves people from surrounding areas and other cities as well. The new hospital is meant to ease that load.
What else was announced for Larkana?
Work has begun to revive the Ratodero water supply scheme, Larkana city will get piped water to homes, and its sewerage system will be upgraded to serve the next 25 years. A water supply, sewerage and drainage project is due to finish within two years.
