All government hospitals in Islamabad have been placed on high alert following directions from the Ministry of Health amid planned political marches towards the federal capital.
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The move comes as various political parties prepare marches towards Islamabad, with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) beginning its long march from Karachi towards the capital on Sunday.
The Ministry of Health issued a circular directing Polyclinic Hospital to remain on high alert until further notice.
Under the emergency arrangements, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have been instructed to remain available in the capital and not leave the city.
Dr Tanveer Afsar has been appointed as the focal person to coordinate the hospital’s response during the emergency period.
The hospital has also been directed to maintain 100 units of blood in its blood bank and ensure adequate stocks of medicines, medical equipment and oxygen.
Authorities have further instructed the hospital to keep its ambulance fleet fully operational and ready to respond to emergencies.
As part of the emergency preparedness plan, 20 beds have been reserved in the emergency ward for male and female patients, while two additional beds have been allocated in the officers’ ward for critical cases.
It is pertinent to mention here that, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday said the party’s long march towards Islamabad had begun from Karachi, calling on the government to provide relief to the people.
Hafiz Naeem was leading the JI’s train march from Karachi Cantt Railway Station as the party entered the next phase of its nationwide protest against the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL).
Hundreds of JI workers and supporters accompanied the party chief at the railway station. The party had earlier ended its protest sit-in at Press Club Chowk before moving towards Karachi Cantt to begin the march.
