Muzaffarabad: (Parliament Times) The Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan has said that after a successful launch of Free Emergency Service the establishment of State of the Art Thalassemia Center in Muzaffarabad was a manifestation of incumbent government’s urge to serve the common masses in the region.
The AJK premier expressed these views while addressing inaugural ceremony of Thalassemia center at Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) here on Monday. AJK Information Minister Mushtaq Minhas, Managing Director Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh, Minister Health Dr. Najeeb Naqi, Noureen Arif Minister Industries and Social Welfare, Secretary Health Major General Khalid Hussain Assad and others were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion the AJK PM said that as per the vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, under this initiative best free of cost health facilities would be provided to the ailing poor population of the region. Khan expressed the optimism that the center established in collaboration of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal would help the Thalassemia patients to live a normal life. He said that all facilities including blood transfusion and blood-screening facilities would be available to ensure better treatment facilities to the patients. He said that since there was no facility in Azad Kashmir the Thalassemia patients had to travel a long distance to get treatment in the hospitals in Islamabad and other areas. He stated that people and the government of AJK were thankful to Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal for establishing this state of the art center in the region.
Khan said that like Pakistan Thalassemia test would be made mandatory before marriage in Azad Kashmir saying that the proper legislation in this regard would be made thereby taking religious scholars and Ulema on board. The PM said that it was time that “we all should rise above political, sectarian and cast divide and contribute positively towards progress and prosperity of the regionâ€.
Referring to pro-people initiatives taken by his government Khan said that providing free health service, making NTS obligatory and following merit in providing jobs under PSC, issuing of health cards to deserving people and putting an end to corruption in education department, speak volumes about incumbent government’s commitment to address the issues faced by the people of the region.
About the prevailing situation in Indian held territory of Jammu and Kashmir the prime minister said that Indian has broken all records of its brutality and barbarism in the held territory by imposing severe sanctions on media and social media sites. He said that by imposing restrictions on social media sites India was trying to hide the crimes that its forces were committing against Kashmiris. He said that India has turned Kashmir valley into a virtual prison.
