By Ishaque Hashmi
KARACHI: Provincial Ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Saeed Ghani have announced the launch of a free air ambulance service in Sindh, fulfilling a vision of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. This initiative, made possible through a partnership between the Sindh Local Council Association and the aircraft company ASSL, aims to enhance accessibility to healthcare services across the province.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of the agreement between the Local Councils Association and ASSL, the ministers emphasized the importance of this service in improving medical facilities and response times. The event was attended by key figures including Kamil Shah, Chairman of the Local Councils Association, and chairpersons from district councils of Sukkur, Rohri, and Khairpur.
Minister Saeed Ghani highlighted that the air ambulance service will facilitate the transport of patients from remote areas like Ghotki, Sukkur, and Khairpur to Karachi. He pointed out the challenges of transporting patients from distant locations and celebrated the launch of this service as a significant achievement that will save lives.
Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah expressed his satisfaction with the new initiative, describing it as a fulfillment of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s vision. He noted the importance of this service, especially in critical cases where timely transport can be a matter of life and death. Shah also mentioned the tragic case of journalist Jan Mohammad Mehr, who could not be saved due to delays in transfer.
The service will be expanded to include Hyderabad, Thar, Nawabshah, and Larkana airports, with plans to introduce airstrips in Badin. Kamil Shah, Chairman of the Local Councils Association, explained that the service will initially provide five free flights per month from Sukkur, Ghotki, and Khairpur to Karachi.
Akbar Jafri, CEO of Aircraft Sales and Services, affirmed that the company provides air ambulance services across Pakistan and will now extend its operations to include Karachi-bound flights from Sukkur. He assured that the air ambulances will be fully equipped with necessary medical facilities including stretchers, ventilators, oxygen, doctors, and paramedical staff. The ceremony concluded with the formal signing of the agreement, marking a new chapter in enhancing emergency medical services in Sindh.
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