SAHIWAL, Jan 31: Residents, doctors, student doctors, district officials and parliamentarians of Sahiwal cheered on Monday at the inaugural of the Sahiwal Medical College, held at District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital.

Principal Dr Zameer Ahmad thanked the administration and parliamentarians for getting the project completed, and said the institution would be made one of the best medical colleges of the province.

The first class of 100 students includes 69 women. The Punjab government has provided a Rs230 million seed money for the college. As the campus is under construction, MBBS classes will be held on the premises of DHQ Hospital. The college building will be completed in two years.

On the occasion, Provincial Prisons Department Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran said the college would bring an era of development and better medical facilities to millions of residents of Sahiwal division.

He said he was grateful to the Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for providing funds for the college.

Provincial Labour Minister Ashraf Sohna called upon girl students to serve humanity after completing their education, reminding them that huge resources were being spent on their education.

The contributions of former district nazim Rai Hasan Nawaz, DHQ Hospital's Dr Naeem and former Sahiwal chamber president Safdar Rasheed cannot be ignored in the establishment of the college.

A seven-member King Edward Medical College team developed the project proposal. Mr Kamran arranged land and budget for his hometown college. Mr Sharif during his visit to Sahiwal on Nov 27 laid the foundation of the college and released Rs500 million for the college. The 430-bed Sahiwal DHQ Hospital and 73-bed Haji Abdul Qayyum Hospital have been attached with the medical college as teaching hospitals.

The provincial government has offered additional Rs60,000 to Rs80,000 salary to doctor teachers.