RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi announced that the first Mother and Children Hospital of Rawalpindi Division, with 1,000 beds, will be completed this year.
Calling it a “big gift” for the citizens, Abbasi said the long-delayed Rs7 billion project will finally become operational. He made the announcement while addressing a ceremony at Government Waqar-ul-Nisa College, attended by MNA Tahira Aurangzeb, MPA Muhammad Hanif Advocate, Ziaullah Shah, the college principal, teachers, and students.
The minister said the PML-N government had taken major steps in health, education, and cleanliness. He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had made modern health facilities a top priority, proving leadership through action.
Abbasi called the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) a national asset, saying it serves patients from all over the country, with 60 percent coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other areas. He also announced that kidney and liver transplant surgeries would start at the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology from November.
Speaking about national progress, he said that under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir, Pakistan had achieved important successes in the economy and foreign policy.
“Today, even the United States is praising Pakistan,” he remarked, adding that the armed forces had made the country’s defense strong.
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The minister also praised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her work in road infrastructure, transport, cleanliness, and education. He said millions of rupees were being spent on upgrading schools with facilities like toilets and boundary walls, while two international-standard schools would also be set up in his constituency.
On Pakistan Railways, Abbasi said Lahore Railway Station had been upgraded to international standards, while a modern system would be introduced across the railways network by December 31, 2025. “Pakistan Railways is a chain that connects all four provinces—Pakhtuns, Baloch, Sindhis, Saraikis, and Punjabis,” he said.
He further announced that an 80-kilometer-long gas pipeline would be laid in Rawalpindi to provide relief in the coming winter. He recalled that projects launched under former prime minister Nawaz Sharif—including universities, bridges, underpasses, and stadiums—had changed the face of the city.
Abbasi also appreciated Waqar-ul-Nisa College for offering both quality education and sports facilities, noting it is the only women’s college in Pakistan with a dedicated hockey stadium.
Concluding his speech, he advised students to focus on studies and respect their parents and teachers, calling it the “true path to success and progress.”
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