THATTA: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated International Medical and Technological College affiliated with Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences here on Monday.

Mr Shah said at the inauguration ceremony that the college was bound to open new vistas of medical education and employment for the entire Laar (lower Sindh) region.

He said that it was a significant milestone for higher education and healthcare system. “The concept of the International College is in line with global economic development based on the knowledge economy,” he said.

He cited examples of developed countries like the United Kingdom and the USA and said their economy largely drove strength from their higher educational institutes.

“Our mission is to produce competent and skilled healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, and technical staff,” he said, adding the graduates from this institute would not only serve locally but would also join the international job market, which would bring good name to the province.

Shah said that the college offered five-year programs such as MBBS, Doctor of Physiotherapy, and Doctor of Pharmacy and the four-year bachelor programs of BS Radiologic Technology, BS Medical Laboratory Technology, BS Radiologic Technology, BS Forensic Science in Forensic Biology, BS Forensic Science in Forensic Chemistry & Toxicology, Associate of Applied Sciences in Radiologic Technology, Bachelor’s Associate Physician. One-year diploma programs in CT Technology, MRI Technology, Blood Banking & Transfusion would also be offered, he said.

Talking to media persons after the ceremony, the chief minister announced compensation of Rs1 million each for the dead and Rs500,000 and Rs200,000 each for the severely injured and lightly injured victims of the Hazara train accident.

He said in answer to a question that the census approved by the CCI would not affect the number of assembly seats. “Sindh has 61 members of National Assembly and even after approval of the census the number of seats will remain the same,” he said.

Shah brushed aside the impression that the delimitation exercise would take time and cause delay in general election. “I don’t think it [delimitation] will be a time-consuming exercise, I think it will be completed well in time and the election will be held within a period of three months,” he said.

He believed Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would be the next prime minister. “We will form government in Balochistan. In the past, PPP has been forming governments in KP,” he recalled and said PPP would again be able to form government in KP.

He said that PPP would take a good number of seats in Punjab that was why he was sure that chairman Bilawal would be the next prime minister.

He was told the FWO had constructed Karachi-Thatta dual carriageway which had now developed craters at different spots in the wake of heavy rains. “We have discussed the matter with our partners [FWO] and the road will be repaired,” he said.

The ceremony was also attended by MPAs Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, special assistants to CM Sadiq Memon, Riaz Shah Shirazi, notables Shafqat Shah Shirazi, LUMHS vice chancellor Prof Ikram Ujjain, deans, directors, and faculty members of the university.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2023