Sindh CM backs industrial growth, healthcare collaboration

Murad Ali Shah tells KATI gathering that infrastructure investment and partnership with Indus Hospital and Health Network are helping expand economic activity and healthcare access across Sindh.

By Mukhtar Alam

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has reaffirmed his government's support for industrial development and public-private collaboration in healthcare, saying that sustained investment in infrastructure and partnership with the Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) are contributing to economic growth and improved public services across the province.

Speaking at a ceremony organised by the Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) in honour of IHHN founder Dr Abdul Bari Khan on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said industrial development remained one of the foremost priorities of the Sindh Government.

"Our objective is not merely to build roads and bridges but to create an enabling environment where industries can grow, investments can flourish and employment opportunities can expand," he said.

Murad Ali Shah said the provincial government had undertaken several infrastructure initiatives aimed at improving connectivity and facilitating industrial and commercial activity. He highlighted projects including the Taj Haider Bridge, Korangi Crossing Bridge and the Shaheed Bhutto Expressway, describing them as important developments for Karachi's industrial landscape.

He said the planned linkage of the Shaheed Bhutto Expressway with Karachi Port would prove to be a significant step towards improving logistics and reducing transportation costs for businesses.

"The linkage of the Shaheed Bhutto Expressway with Karachi Port will prove to be a game changer for trade and industry," he said, adding that the government would continue to allocate resources for the development of industrial areas despite fiscal constraints.

The Chief Minister also referred to improvements in law and order in the Korangi Industrial Area, noting that the government had constituted a dedicated task force after concerns were raised by industrialists.

"When KATI expressed concerns about security issues, we immediately established a dedicated task force comprising representatives of the administration, police and industrial community," he said.

Turning to healthcare, Murad Ali Shah described the government's collaboration with the Indus Hospital and Health Network as one of the province's most successful public-private partnerships. He recalled his first visit to the institution following an invitation from Dr Abdul Bari Khan and said the partnership had expanded considerably over the years.

"After witnessing the remarkable work being done there, we initiated a partnership that has since grown into one of the most successful public-private collaborations in the health sector," he said.

The Chief Minister said the Sindh Government's support for the IHHN extends beyond Karachi and includes healthcare facilities in Badin and other underserved districts, with the aim of improving access to quality healthcare services.

"Our objective is to ensure that quality healthcare services are available to every citizen, regardless of where they live," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput thanked the Sindh Government for its continued support to the industrial sector and acknowledged infrastructure development initiatives undertaken in industrial areas. He particularly appreciated the construction of the Shaheed Bhutto Expressway and Korangi flyovers, as well as the allocation of a special grant of Rs2 billion for development projects in industrial zones.

Dr Abdul Bari Khan, while expressing gratitude for the recognition, described serving humanity through healthcare as a privilege and acknowledged the Sindh Government's role in the expansion of the IHHN.

"The Sindh Government is the largest partner of the Indus Hospital and Health Network. Its support has enabled us to significantly expand our services and reach more patients across Pakistan," he said.

He said government support for the institution had increased from Rs300 million to Rs8 billion over the years, enabling the network to broaden its healthcare footprint across Sindh as well as other provinces.

The ceremony concluded with participants paying tribute to Dr Abdul Bari Khan's contributions to the healthcare sector and underscoring the importance of collaboration between government, industry and social sector institutions in advancing public welfare and development in Sindh.

Photos: Official sources

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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