ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said Pakistan has the potential of becoming a centre of quality medical treatment and services in the region despite having limited resources, and also handled Covid pandemic in a far better way than its neighbours, including India.
Addressing the Convocation ceremony of Fazaia Medical College here, he said: “Pakistan had low resources, but due to hard work by the professional medical teams, it managed the pandemic in a better way and earned international prestige.”
He asked the medical professionals and institutions in the country to keep upgrading their skills in the medical field.
The foreign minister said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) was ready to play its due role in facilitating the international partnership in healthcare cooperation.
He hoped that Pakistan would be able to qualify for joining the high-technology exporters’ club because of the country’s export of high-end surgical and medical equipment and products, urging the industry and academia to proactively strengthen their linkages.
Mr Bilawal said despite low resources, the Sindh government, in particular, had managed to build state-of-the-art international standard health institutes in the province that were providing free medical facilities to the public.
In this regard he mentioned Gambat area of Khairpur district, where the Sindh government established an internationally-recognised hospital where patients from across the country were availing free liver, kidney, bone marrow and lungs transplant facilities.
He also highlighted the role of the National Institute for Cardio-Vascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, that was also providing treatment of heart-related diseases free of charge.
He said in every district of Sindh, satellite healthcare centres had been established to provide emergency treatment to heart patients and children.
The foreign minister said after the Covid pandemic, the government had also established the first-ever infectious disease hospital in Karachi where free treatment is being provided.
He asked the fresh graduates to support the government in its efforts to develop high-value services for the people.
Regarding the achievements of Pakistan on the international front, he said: “We have worked day and night towards the betterment of our relations with all the international partners.”
He said Pakistan’s foreign policy was guided by national interest, pragmatism and constructive engagements. “It is a matter of great satisfaction that despite enormous challenges faced by Pakistan on national, international and economic fronts, we have been able to advance foreign policy interests of Pakistan.”
Highlighting recent achievements on the diplomatic front, he mentions Pakistan’s exit from the FATF grey list and global recognition of the country’s leadership at G77 in China.
“When we gathered at the international convention for climate resilient Pakistan, the entire international community stood shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan,” he added.
He termed the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Goa, India, a testimony of Pakistan’s strong resolve to proactively pursue the country’s foreign policy interests, especially in traditional areas like national security, galvanising international support on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
