Following the October 8 catastrophic earthquake in the Subcontinent humanity has taken over politics, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed his desire to visit Islamabad soon to express New Delhi's condolences and solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan, sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday.
Sources said an injury to the Indian Prime Minister, which needs some sort of operation, has incapacitated his immediate visit; however, a date of the visit may be fixed with mutual consultations.
"President Pervez Musharraf had extended an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister to visit Pakistan during his meeting with the later in New York last month," they recalled.
Pakistan has accepted consignments of Indian relief goods for the earthquake victims but declined the offer of Indian helicopters on the pretext the choppers would be flown by the Pakistani pilots instead of Indians.
Meanwhile, life and security environment in the federal capital, earthquake-hit areas and other parts of Pakistan have dramatically changed for the better, as one can see hundreds of foreign pilots, crew members, drivers, surgeons, paramedics, relief workers and other personnel of different nationalities, who have come to Pakistan to take part in hitherto unparalleled rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts, roaming about freely in markets late in the night after completion of their day's assignments.
Sources said all countries of the world without exception have earned goodwill and gratitude of the people of Pakistan, and perhaps, the humanity as a whole had never exhibited such unity in its past troubled and acrimonious history as it has done now: here in Pakistan - in this hour of grief, death and destruction.
Sources said as three main medical hubs for earthquake victims set up at Mansehra, Muzaffarabad and Bagh are now fully functional, the health ministry has finalised arrangements to operationalise its fourth major medical hub in the Polytechnic building of Rawalakot from Wednesday.
They said to further reach out to affected people in far-flung areas of Hazara and Azad Kashmir districts, the health ministry in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched 22 additional teams each comprising of doctors, surgeons and paramedical staff.
These 200 medical personnel have been provided by the Punjab government and the WHO has assisted them with equipment and vehicles.
They said the Prime Minister has directed all hospitals to maintain a comprehensive record on a clear format incorporating details such as persons admitted, nature of injuries and persons discharged.
He further directed no unaccompanied child should be released to any claimant. Such children, if no longer required for further treatment, should be handed over to centres set up for such children by the ministry of social welfare and women development.
He has also directed the health ministry that requirement of wheel chairs, crutches and artificial limbs should be determined and immediate steps be taken for their procurement to cater to the need of affected patients.
The ministry has requested the WHO to make available Anti-Tetanus Globulin (ATC) to treat injured patients requiring surgeries to boost their protection against tetanus.
Since, very little stock of ATC is available in Pakistan, the WHO was allowed to procure it from India where its stocks are said to be available for airlifting within three days.
Medical hub in Muzaffarabad with the help of SIUT, Karachi has established a dialysis centre, which is now fully functional. Pre-screened blood is also now available at this centre, sources add.
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