ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Health Services (NHS) Saira Afzal Tarar on Wednesday announced that the first nursing university of the country would have residential facility for 1,000 girl students.

She was speaking to a Bahraini delegation, led by Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al-Khalifa. The delegation is visiting Pakistan to finalise the nursing university project in Islamabad.

The university will be a gift of king of Bahrain for the people of Pakistan. The university: “King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences” will be established on 237 kanals at Park Road Chak Shahzad. The land and utility services will be provided by the Pakistan government and all the funding for construction and equipment will be provided by Bahrain.

After its establishment, the university will provide higher education in the field of nursing.

First nursing varsity to have girls hostel

Currently, Prof Dr Rafat Jan Rukanudddin, Dr Raeesa Gul, Dr Rozina Karamliani, Dr Rubina Baroliya, Dr Jacqueline Dias, Dr Mohammad Dildar were among the few who have done PhD in the field of nursing.

Ms Tarar said the objective of the project was to improve the standard of medical education in the country and produce world class manpower in the field of medical care.

The university will cater to 2,000 students and provide 500 admissions annually.

Speaking on the occasion, head of the Bahraini delegation Dr Shaikha Rana said Bahrain was pleased to support the government and people of Pakistan in establishing a state of the art nursing university.

“We are keen to strengthen collaboration with Pakistan in the health sector,” she said.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Bahrain Javed Malik was also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2016