President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurates Hospital in Muzaffargarh through video link

Lahore: President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif today inaugurated through video link the state-of-the-art Recep Tayyip Erdogan Trust Hospital set up in district Muzaffargarh of South Punjab with the cooperation of Turk government and people. The Turk President pressed remote control button and unveiled the plaque of the hospital. Turk Vice President, Ministers, Members Parliament and President of TIKA were present at the inaugural ceremony in Turkey while Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafique, Turk Ambassador in Pakistan S. Babur Girgin, Members National and Provincial Assembly, health experts, intellectual and a large number of people attended the ceremony in Muzaffargarh.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Trust Hospital by the Turk President through video link, Shahbaz Sharif said that it is a very important day as the state-of the art Recep Tayyip Erdogan Trust Hospital is being inaugurated which has been set up with the cooperation of Turk government and people. He said that another milestone in Pak-Turk friendship has been achieved. He said that the friendship between the peoples of the two countries is more than between two brothers. He said that a modern and splendid hospital equipped with latest facilities has been set up in Muzaffargarh and it is glorious example of help and assistance by a brother to another brother in the hour of need. He said that there is no other hospital of this kind in Pakistan.

Addressing the Turk President in Ankara, the Chief Minister said that the cooperation extended by him to the people of Pakistan during flood of 2010 can never be forgotten. He said that Turk President along with his daughter came to Pakistan and extended all out help to marooned people and his wife the first lady of Turkey also visited Ankara Istanbul and other cities of Turkey to collect funds for the distressed Pakistani brethren with the help of which this splendid hospital has been constructed.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the people of Pakistan will always remember the sincerity and brotherhood of the Turk leadership at this difficult time. He said that friendship between Pakistan and Turkey is unprecedented and there are deep-rooted historical, religious and cultural ties between the two countries.

The Chief Minister said that the Muslims of sub-continent fully supported their Turk brethren in the war of independence and the government and people of Turkey have also stood by their Pakistani brethren in every crisis either it was war or any natural calamity. He said that the Turk President has not only set up a hospital in Muzaffargarh but also sent doctors for running this hospital. He said that modern healthcare facilities are available in the hospital and treatment and medicines are being provided to the patients free of charge. He said that Punjab government provides funds for the hospital while NGO Indus runs the system of the hospital.

The Chief Minister thanked Turk government and the people for setting up the hospital. He said that Turkey has made tremendous progress under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and it has become the 16^th biggest economy of the world. Addressing Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Chief Minister that he is a great leader and Turk nation is proud of him. He said that just as he has given a hospital for the area, similarly, Amina Tayyip Erdogan School named after his wife is a splendid gift for this region. He requested Turk President to visit Pakistan as soon as possible and inaugurate this school.

The Chief Minister while addressing the inaugural ceremony of Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital in Muzaffargarh said that it is a historic occasion as a modern hospital set up with the hard earned money of Turk people is being inaugurated. He said that Recep Tayyip Erdogan Trust Hospital is an invaluable gift of Turk government and people to the people of Pakistan, Punjab and especially district Muzaffargarh of South Punjab. He said that the hospital is equipped with modern medical facilities and being operated on no profit, no loss basis. He said that this hospital is playing an important role in the service of ailing humanity and orthopedic ward has also been started in the hospital which will provide latest facilities to the handicapped persons.

The Chief Minister further said this hospital is a role model for other hospitals of Pakistan. He said that service to ailing humanity is a form of worship and rewarded by Allah Almighty. He said that there is no hospital in Pakistan of the standard of Recep Tayyip Erdogan Trust Hospital. He said that there is no strike in the hospital nor tyres are burnt or work is stopped and this makes this hospital different from other hospitals of the country. He said that the model of this hospital will have to be replicated in health sector so that the mission of service to humanity is fulfilled. He said that every effort will have to be made to upgrade all government and private hospitals, DHQs, THQs and rural and basic health centers to the level of Recep Tayyip Erdogan Trust Hospital so that Pakistan could be made an Islamic welfare state as was envisioned by Quaid and Iqbal. He said that Recep Tayyip Erdogan Trust Hospital is a model of Pak-Turk friendship and an example of deep love of the Turk brethren for the people of Pakistan.

The Chief Minister announced to increase the bed capacity of Recep Tayyip Erdogan Trust Hospital from 100 to 500 beds and said that it has also been decided to establish medical college, nursing training center and research and development departments in the hospital and funds of billions of rupees will be allocated for this project during next financial year. He said that the site of the project has been selected while its design has also been prepared and these projects will be completed within two years.

The Chief Minister said that Recep Tayyip Erdogan trust Hospital is splendid gift for the people of South Punjab. Shahbaz Sharif said that improvement of medical facilities in government hospitals is the mission of the government and all necessary steps are being taken for this purpose. He said that ailing humanity is waiting for help and there is a need to come forward for this purpose. He said that Recep Tayyip Erdogan Trust Hospital is a glorious example of service to ailing humanity. He said that the capacity of this hospital will be enhanced to 500 beds during next two years and it will be made such a hospital where patients from Karachi and Lahore will also come for treatment.

Shahbaz Sharif thanked Advisor on Health, Secretary Health and their team and the head of the NGO Indus, Dr. Bari and Mian Ahsan for their endeavours in this regard. He said that every effort will be made to transform Pakistan in accordance with the vision of Quaid and Iqbal through adopting the principle of honesty, hard work and commitment.

Earlier, Turk President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his address through video link said that cooperation with Pakistan in different sectors will be continued. He also congratulated Pakistani nation on fighting terrorism and other problems with courage and determination. He said that military and political leadership in Pakistan and all stakeholders are making all out efforts for coping with the challenge of terrorism and Pakistan will soon come out of these issues and emerge as a strong economy. Referring to the international situation, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Muslim Ummah is facing a number of problems and collective efforts are need for their solution.