At SBBMU’s convocation in Larkana, Bilawal Bhutto urged graduates to turn education into service, praising doctors and nurses for their frontline role in health crises
By Imtiaz Hussain
LARKANA: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Sindh has witnessed significant progress in its healthcare sector following the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
Speaking at the convocation of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University in Larkana, Bilawal Bhutto congratulated all graduates and urged them to dedicate themselves to serving the nation. “Education is invaluable, but it must translate into service for humanity,” he said, highlighting the frontline role doctors and nurses have played during health crises.
He added that improving the healthcare system has always been a priority. “Since the 18th Amendment, we have invested heavily in health. Our goal is not just to compete with other provinces but with the world. Free cardiac treatment is now available in our province, with services extended to Karachi, Nawabshah, Jamshoro, Sukkur, and Larkana,” he said.
Bilawal Bhutto also noted that emergency rooms for children have been opened across all districts of Sindh through a public-private partnership with the Child Life Foundation. “Hospitals in other major Pakistani cities cannot match the standards set by Gambat Hospital,” he remarked. He emphasized that efforts are ongoing to provide healthcare in all districts, encouraging other institutions to also improve performance.
The PPP chairman further highlighted progress in education. “Prior to 1947, Sindh had only one university. Between 1947 and 2008, 16 universities were established. Today, Sindh has 30 universities. Our aim is to establish at least one university in every district, including underprivileged areas, to ensure access to education for all,” he said.
Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah paid tribute to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s vision for women’s empowerment and praised the provincial government’s initiatives in health and education. He said, “No society can progress without education.
Benazir Bhutto envisioned a university in 1989, and her dream was realized in 2009. Reforms in healthcare continue, and the youth are the future of Pakistan. Development grounded in education and research is the only path to sustainable progress.”
