Dr. Yasmin Rashid's Open Letter to Mian Nawaz Sharif
Date: 24-02-2025
A few days ago, the front-page headline of Daily Dawn stated that Nawaz Sharif "roared" in response to Imran Khan’s call for protest.
I want to ask a few questions. Has the Ta-Hayat Quaid been given permission to "roar" by the establishment? If you have to be careful, do not roar too much, you may jeopardize your daughter’s future. Secondly, I want to know who are you to stop us from protesting? Even your own seat is not clear in the assembly; I have challenged the results in the electoral tribunal. How interesting, you steal our mandate, establish a government against the will of the people of Pakistan, and want us to stop protesting. The right to protest has been given to us by the Constitution of Pakistan. Secondly, I need to provide information that you need to know—the people of Punjab are already aware of it. You may be in a better position to advise your daughter.
- Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute PKLI became fully functional in our tenure. More than 800 liver transplants and more than 900 kidney transplants have already been performed successfully in that hospital. 70% of the operations were free of cost. Perhaps you do not know that even bone marrow transplants started when Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi became the CM. More than 15 bone marrow transplants have already been conducted; the first cadaver transplant was also done during our tenure. The best part is that it is the only public sector hospital that is Joint Commission International (JCI) approved. Credit goes to the management team. I looked after the hospital with complete sincerity, although it was the brainchild of Shahbaz Sharif, who should get credit for it. I looked after it because it was public money. So, I am keen to know what new facility your daughter is planning to give. I think the health department has not properly briefed her.
- Mobile hospitals were made functional in our tenure. This facility was provided to the slum areas. Perhaps you do not know that it was initiated in NA-130 for people living in Bund Area. If you had visited your constituency, you would have known about it. They were fully functional during COVID and were used for vaccination. However, we never had our pictures pasted on them.
I thought I must tell you what all happened in health during our tenure. You might be able to guide her better:
- The first health sector strategy 2018-2028, an evidence-based policy document, was published in February 2019. Please ask your daughter to read it, and it would be good if she follows it. All steps that we took were based on that document made by multiple scientists on health.
- Sehat Insaaf Card was launched in January 2019 under the Universal Health Coverage chapter of the document. You must agree it was Imran Khan’s initiative; you followed it later from Islamabad. Your daughter messed up the Sehat Card. I still remember the audio leak where she advised her Chacha Ji that we must finish this card. When I left office, 4.2 million families had already utilized the cards with 90% satisfaction, according to third-party evaluation. Dialysis was a part of it, and now she introduces a dialysis card.
- High maternal and child mortality rates resulted in the establishment of mother and child hospitals all over Punjab to achieve sustainable developmental goals. Hospitals have been established in DG Khan, Layyah, Multan, Lahore, Attock, and Mianwali. The Mianwali and Lahore mother and child hospitals are both functional. I am sure the other hospitals are also ready, as they were near completion when we left the government.
- Nishtar II, a new hospital, was given to Multan—note that we did not name it after Imran Khan. This hospital should also be ready.
- A new cardiology hospital was given to DG Khan and made functional in our tenure.
- Rahim Yar Khan was given a second general hospital with satellite units. A network of hospitals was already laid in our tenure.
Development of human resources was the most important part of the document:
- All 42 nursing schools were upgraded to nursing colleges so that the nurses get a degree at par with the world. The seats in the colleges were increased from 1,400 to 3,200. Their stipend was increased to Rs. 31,000 from Rs. 21,000. All mother and child hospitals have a provision for a nursing college. The first male nursing college was established at Shahdara Hospital, attached to Fatima Jinnah Medical University FJMU. The first class should be graduating now.
- More than 3,300 health professionals were recruited on merit through the Public Service Commission and National Testing System NTS. This included doctors, nurses, technologists, pharmacists, psychologists, physiotherapists, and paramedical staff. In the history of Punjab, 500 male nurses were recruited for the first time, playing a pivotal role during COVID.
Preventive work at the primary health care level:
- 92% immunization was accomplished by 2021, much before the WHO timeline of 2022.
- The fight against COVID was appreciated all over the world. Punjab led the battle and received an appreciation certificate from WHO. SMART lockdowns were Imran Khan’s brainchild to save the daily wager from starvation. The most successful immunization against COVID was done in Pakistan. You are welcome to read my articles published in Al Jazeera.
- To ensure that all District Headquarters Hospitals should be functional, more than 200 anesthetists were trained in primary health care and appointed.
- Upgradation of Basic Health Units (BHUs) has already started to ensure 24/7 availability. 1,200 BHUs have been modified.
- Linking District Headquarter Hospitals DHQs and Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals THQs to teaching hospitals had already been initiated through pilot projects.
Mr. Nawaz Sharif, I can go on and on about all the work done by our government in health. The reason I am telling you this is that your daughter is not being properly briefed by the bureaucrats around her.
Last but not least is the development of the first Child University in Asia. We were in dire need of indigenous research.
As I do not want to bore you anymore with this lengthy narration, I know more about the health department, so I can continue writing. I have given you the important points. If you need any further information, I am available 24 hours at Kot Lakhpat Jail.
It is important that work is done seriously for the people of Pakistan. I am sure your daughter must be feeling embarrassed with her project of the bike lane. A small rain washed away all her efforts. I really feel sorry for her.
In the end, I am worried about your younger brother, the PM Shahbaz Sharif. He is planning to change his name. Has he become disillusioned by the name Sharif? He announced yesterday that he will change his name if he does not get ahead of India. You need to advise him not to get so emotional, as perhaps he does not know that after independence, India never had martial law, a hybrid regime, or an establishment ruling the roost. They always had civil supremacy.
We need civil supremacy if we want Pakistan to progress. It is the will of the people that always shapes a country. I was born in free Pakistan, and I will continue fighting till I get Haqeeqi Azadi. You also need to think about it. Don’t you want Haqeeqi Azadi at this age? I have taken this liberty because you and I are of the same age. The people of Pakistan will never forgive the rulers who suppressed and oppressed them. I am a true Pakistani.
May Allah give me strength to continue this struggle, and may Allah help the people of Pakistan to get through this turmoil.
Pakistan Zindabad
Yasmin Rashid