Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Thursday that despite low resources, Pakistan has been able to position itself as a regional centre for medical treatment and services.
He stated that Pakistan handled COVID-19 far better than its neighbors, especially India.
“Pakistan had low resources, but thanks to the hard work of professional medical teams, it managed the pandemic better and earned international prestige,” Bilawal remarked at the Fazaia Medical College Convocation ceremony today.
He urged all medical professionals and institutions in the country to continue to improve their medical expertise.
The foreign minister stated that the Ministry of foreign affairs is ready to play its proper role in supporting international collaboration in healthcare.
He stated that the sale of high-end surgical and medical equipment, as well as items from other channels, will allow Pakistan to qualify in the league of high-technology exporters. He also urged the country’s industry and university to work together to enhance ties.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that despite limited resources, the Sindh government in particular had managed to construct state-of-the-art international quality health institutes in the province, which provided free medical services to the general public.
In the Gambat area of Khairpur district, he said the provincial government had established the internationally recognized hospital where patients from across the country were availing of free liver, kidney, bone marrow, and lung transplant facilities.
Further, the FM said National Institute for Cardio-vascular Diseases in Karachi was also providing treatment of heart-related diseases free of charge.
He said in every district of Sindh, satellite healthcare centers had also been established to provide emergency treatment to heart patients and children.
The 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.
Congratulating the successful graduates, he urged them to assist the government in developing high-value services for the people.
In terms of Pakistan’s international successes, the minister stated, “We have worked day and night to improve our relations with all international partners.”
He stated that national interest, pragmatism, and constructive engagements guide Pakistan’s foreign policy. “It is a source of great satisfaction that, despite enormous challenges on national, international, and economic fronts, we have been able to advance Pakistan’s foreign policy interests.”
Recent diplomatic triumphs, he noted, include Pakistan’s removal from the FATF grey list and global acknowledgment of Pakistan’s leadership at the G77 meeting in China.
“When we gathered at the international convention for climate resilient Pakistan,” he continued, “the entire international community stood shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan.”
According to Bilawal, the recent SCO summit in Goa, India, demonstrated Pakistan’s strong will to pursue the country’s foreign policy goals, as well as traditional areas such as national security, while galvanizing international support on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
