SARGODHA (Dunya News) – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday launched the electric bus project in Sargodha.
Providing free travel facilities for students and senior citizens.Speaking at the inauguration, the CM emphasized that development in Pakistan has traditionally started and ended in big cities, but under her leadership, progress will now begin from smaller cities and extend across the country.
Launch of Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology
During her visit, Maryam Nawaz announced that the Sargodha Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology has started functioning and will soon become fully operational. She revealed that specialists from across Punjab are being deployed in Sargodha, ensuring patients no longer need to travel to Faisalabad or Lahore for heart treatment. She further shared that next month, Nawaz SharifMaryam will be invited to inaugurate the institute formally.
The facility, costing Rs. 8.84 billion, will include 200 beds and aims to revolutionize cardiac healthcare in the region.
The CM has directed that the OPD be opened by June 30, while the full project must be completed by December 31.Modern Public Transport for SargodhaHighlighting the city’s lack of a proper transport system, the CM said many commuters were previously forced to travel on the rooftops of buses or in unsafe conditions.
The new electric buses offer a safe, comfortable, and eco-friendly alternative with separate sections for women, CCTV cameras, and free rides for women, students, senior citizens, and differently-abled passengers.Maryam
She also noted that the fare from Bhera to Sargodha, which was previously Rs. 200 on outdated buses, has now been reduced to just Rs. 20.
Flood Relief and Rehabilitation
Addressing the recent floods, Maryam Nawaz explained that Punjab faced the worst flooding in its history after India released water into Pakistan, affecting 27 cities and 5,000 villages. She said that timely efforts by the provincial government saved 2.5 million people and countless animals. Relief trucks carrying food and medicine for 10,000 people each were dispatched, ensuring urgent aid reached victims.
She announced Pakistan’s largest flood relief package, including:
Rs. 1 million for families whose homes were destroyed.
Rs. 500,000 for partially damaged homes.
Rs. 500,000 for loss of large animals like cattle.
Rs. 50,000 for loss of smaller livestock such as goats and sheep.
The CM assured that she will not rest until all flood-affected families are resettled.
Public Support and Administrative Steps
During her visit to the under-construction Cardiology Institute, citizens welcomed Maryam Nawaz with flower petals and slogans of support. She personally greeted them by waving from her vehicle.Meanwhile, Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique chaired a meeting on the operational setup of the cardiology institute. The session reviewed the appointment of a CEO, recruitment measures.Maryam
Pediatric emergency setup, and the formation of a selection committee for the Board of Governors.
which will be finalized with CM approval.SARGODHA (Dunya News) – Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique will head the selection committee for the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology (NSIC) Sargodha. He confirmed that the OPD of the institute will open to the public by June 30, 2025.During a high-level meeting, the Specialised.Maryam
Healthcare and Medical Education Department was instructed to begin the recruitment process for the CEO and OPD staff of NSIC Sargodha.
Rafique highlighted that the Punjab government is rapidly completing mega health projects, aiming to bring advanced treatment facilities to people’s doorsteps.Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha
The Sargodha cardiology institute will include a fully functional Pediatric Emergency Department. Recruitment of doctors, professors, and other staff will be carried out under the official hospital recruitment policy.
According to the minister, the head of the institute will not be allowed private practice.
Ensuring dedicated service. For the initial phase, two professors of cardiology, two professors of surgery, and one professor of medicine will be appointed.
The meeting was attended by Health Secretary Punjab Azmat Mahmood, Dr. Muhammad Adnan Khan, Dr. Farqad Alamgir, Vice Chancellor KEMU Prof. Mahmood Ayaz, and Vice Chancellor of University of Child Health Sciences Prof. Masood Sadiq, among other officials.
Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research Lahore
In a separate meeting chaired by Khawaja Salman Rafique, progress on the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research Lahore was reviewed.
Phase 1 of the project will feature 615 beds, including:
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A 150-bed cancer care clinic
A 75-bed hospice and palliative care unitMaryam
A 110-bed bone marrow transplant center
Punjab Minister for Communication and Works, Sohaib Ahmad Bharth, announced that the hospital will be built on 85 kanals of land within 15 months. The facility will have five floors plus a basement, equipped with modern medical technology, labs, ICUs, CCUs, and advanced operation theaters.The hospital is expected to provide world-class cancer treatment to over 10 million residents of Sargodha division.
The old DHQ hospital building has already begun demolition, with completion expected in 15 days.
Earlier, on March 7, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz laid the foundation stone for the institute near Sargodha Medical College on Faisalabad Road. However, due to unsuitability of the site, the project was shifted to the old DHQ building premises.Maryam
Security Measures: Jammers in Jails
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has started installing modern signal jammers in jails across Sargodha, Shahpur, Mianwali, and Bhakkar to counter security and terrorism threats. Local residents, however, fear that these jammers may also disrupt signals in nearby government offices and residential areas.
Law and Order: Police Training Postponed
The training of over 80 sub-inspectors in Sargodha region has been postponed due to a shortage of police staff during Muharram security duties. The officers have been recalled to maintain law and order.Maryam
Tragic Road Accident in Bhakkar
In another development, five people were killed and seven injured in a collision between a van and a truck near Nasirabad, Bhakkar, on Tuesday. According to rescue officials, the van was en route from Mianwali to Jhang when the accident occurred.
