Noted social worker, Abdul Sattar Edhi has announced immediate reduction in the ambulance charges by 50 percent.
According to an Edhi spokesman here on Wednesday, the decision has been taken in view of growing price hike, particularly the prices of medicines due which the low income and poor people had to face difficulties in getting medical treatment.
He said that a poor man has no capacity to buy a drip as a result of which human life is lost.
In view of this situation, Faisal Edhi after seeking special permission from Abdul Sattar Edhi announced that charges for ambulance service outside the city had been reduced by 50 percent with immediate effect.
He said the reduction in charges, the poor and middle income people would get relief and the saved amount could be spent on the purchase of medicines.
Faisal Edhi said although over 700 ambulances were running round the clock in serving the causing of ailing humanity, but the number was quite less compared to requirements.
He said it had been planned to add 300 more ambulances in the existing fleet by the year's end and huge money would be required for their purchase and maintenance.
Faisal Edhi appealed the people to extend financial assistance to Edhi Foundation.
He referred to a statement of Abdul Sattar Edhi that if the Foundation was donated hide and skins from all over Pakistan, the ambulance service could be operated free of cost.
It may be mentioned that Edhi was operating ambulance service at Rs 8 per Km, which has now been reduced to Rs 4 per Km.
As result of this reduction in charges the Islamabad-Lahore cost of the ambulance will come down from Rs 2600 to Rs 1300, Islamabad-Multan from Rs 2800 to Rs 1400, Karachi-Sukkur from Rs 4000 to Rs 2000 and Karachi-Larkana from Rs 3800 to Rs 1900.