Funds for Balakot hospital released

MANSEHRA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has released funds for the remaining reconstruction work of the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Balakot, which was crumbled to ruins in the 2005 earthquake.

“The government aims to ensure quality healthcare services for the residents of Balakot and has released funds for the completion of the reconstruction work of the only public sector health facility, which is expected to start functioning next month,” MPA Munir Hussain Lughmani told a meeting attended by the heads of devolved departments at Tehsil Municipal Administration’s hall in Balakot on Friday.

He said that although the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, destroyed in the earthquake where many lives were lost, was currently operating in a rented building, it lacked adequate healthcare, diagnostic and bedding facilities causing significant difficulties for local patients.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker said that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur included this incomplete project in special schemes and released the required funds.“This state-of-the-art facility will be completed next month, and residents of the entire Balakot tehsil will benefit from quality healthcare and other related services,” Lughmani said.

He added that positions for male and female specialists’ doctors, paramedics, and other staff were also being filled.“We are in the apex court to ensure the development of the New Balakot City housing project to ensure allotments of residential facilities to survivor families,” Lughmani said.