Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar and Member of the National Assembly Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar laid the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art Burn Unit in Bahawalpur, marking a significant milestone in the development of healthcare infrastructure in South Punjab.
Foundation stone laid for Burn Unit in Bahawalpur
BAHAWALPUR, Jun 09 (APP): Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar and Member of the National Assembly Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar laid the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art Burn Unit in Bahawalpur, marking a significant milestone in the development of healthcare infrastructure in South Punjab.
The ceremony was attended by Member of the Provincial Assembly Sadia Bilal, Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League-N Lawyers Forum Bilal Malik, Bahawalpur Division Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia, Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur Syed Hassan Raza, senior health officials, and other distinguished guests.
The project, being launched under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision of “Healthy Punjab,” will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs4.3 billion. The 50-bed specialized facility will provide advanced medical treatment and comprehensive care for burn victims, offering services in accordance with international healthcare standards.
Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had won the hearts of the people of Bahawalpur by approving the long-awaited Burn Unit project. He remarked that Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has always regarded Bahawalpur as his second home and that the establishment of this major healthcare facility reflects the party’s longstanding commitment to the region’s development.
Highlighting the party’s development record, Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar said that successive PML-N governments have undertaken extensive development initiatives across the country, including the construction of hospitals, educational institutions, roads, flyovers, and underpasses. He described Nawaz Sharif as a visionary leader who understands public needs and believes in practical solutions to improve citizens’ lives.
The Deputy Speaker also paid tribute to his father and former provincial minister and present MNA Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar for his contributions to the healthcare sector in Bahawalpur. He noted that his efforts led to the establishment of the Civil Hospital, which helped reduce the patient burden on Bahawal Victoria Hospital, as well as the creation of a Drug Testing Laboratory, institutions for special education, and other public welfare projects. He stated that the Punjab Government is introducing transformative reforms in the health sector to ensure access to modern and high-quality healthcare services. According to him, the Burn Unit project fulfills a longstanding demand of the people and will significantly benefit residents of Bahawalpur and the wider South Punjab region. The facility will include advanced medical equipment, specialized wards, modern operating theatres, and highly trained healthcare professionals, enabling effective treatment of burn and trauma patients locally.
Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar emphasized that once completed, the Burn Unit will serve millions of people across Bahawalpur Division and neighboring districts. In the past, patients suffering from severe burns had to travel to Lahore and other major cities for treatment, resulting in delays, financial burdens, and additional hardships for patients and their families. The new facility is expected to address these challenges substantially.
On the occasion, the Deputy Speaker also announced another major healthcare initiative for the region. He revealed that, on the special directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a state-of-the-art Children’s Complex will be constructed in Bahawalpur at a cost of Rs24 billion. He said the project has been included in the upcoming fiscal year’s development budget and will provide specialized pediatric healthcare services to children across South Punjab, reducing the need for families to travel to distant cities for advanced medical treatment.
Among those present at the ceremony were Director Health Services Dr. Tanveer Ahmed Shah, Head of Plastic Surgery Professor Dr. Mughis Amin, Medical Superintendent of Bahawal Victoria Hospital Dr. Abdul Rehman, Superintendent of Sadiq Abbasi Hospital Dr. Muhammad Hamid Khan, Chief Executive Officer of the District Health Authority Bahawalpur Dr. Zeeshan Rauf, and other senior officials. The ceremony concluded with a renewed commitment from government representatives and health authorities to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and expand access to quality medical services for the people of Bahawalpur and South Punjab.
