NA passes Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University bill amid uproar

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday passed the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (PIMS), Islamabad Bill, 2013 amid huge uproar by the opposition.

Faisal Karim Khundi asked Minister for Capital Administration and Development Nazar Muhammad Gondal to move the bill.The House passed the bill clause by clause by majority vote.

The PML-N and MQM stood up on their seats holding placards and pictures of Quaid-e-Azam and chanted slogans against the bill.

With the enactment of the bill students of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) has been provided more opportunities for getting higher education.

PIMS has been upgraded to a medical university. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto University has been empowered to confer degrees, diplomas certificates and other academic distinctions.

All Medical colleges and health institutions located in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) will be affiliated with SZABMU. The faculty of medicine Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) will be transferred to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University and ceases to exist and all students thereafter will be transferred in six month time. SZABMU will impart quality medical education to provide better healthcare and carry out extensive research in medical sciences.

The Minister said the Government was committed to standardized medical education in general and particularly in ICT by encouraging extensive research in the field of medical sciences in such a manner to provide better patient care.

He said the education policy 2009, emphasized upon increased enrollment at all levels of education including higher education.

Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto University would help in achieving such objectives.

Up-gradation of PIMS to Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University will greatly help meeting requirement of state-of-the-art medical institution in capital.

It may be mentioned here that PIMS is providing specialist training in 28 disciplines of medicine, surgery and dentistry. Presently 550 resident doctors are under training at this institute.

It is also providing post graduate training to the nurses and basic nursing education. The institute is also providing structured training for paramedics in various disciplines.