Khawaja Asif, Manshaullah Butt Inaugurate Upgraded Social Security Hospital
SIALKOT, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Sep, 2026)
Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Punjab Provincial Minister for Labour and Human Resources Muhammad Manshaullah Butt on Saturday inaugurated the project for revamping and upgrading the Social Security Hospital on Daska Road, Sialkot.
Deputy Commissioner (DC), Sialkot Awais Mushtaq, Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) Syeda Nosheen Ifthar and Gulnaz Shujat, Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Chaudhry Faisal Ikram, Chaudhry Tariq Subhani, Naveed Ashraf, Rana Arif Harnah and Shakeela Arthur, Secretary Social Security Danish Iftikhar, Commissioner Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) Zulfiqar Ali Kharl, Director General Labour Syeda Kulsoom, business leader Riaz-ud-Din Sheikh, representatives of the labour community and media were also present on the occasion.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the upgradation of the Social Security Hospital was an important step towards providing quality healthcare facilities to factory workers and their families in Sialkot. He stated that millions of people in Sialkot are associated with factories and the industrial sector, adding that provision of quality medical facilities to workers is the government's primary responsibility.
The Defence Minister highlighted that Sialkot is the only city in Pakistan with a distinct global identity. He emphasized that the city's industry plays a crucial role in strengthening the national economy, making it essential to provide basic facilities, including healthcare, to industrial workers.
He expressed hope that the upgraded Social Security Hospital would develop into a modern healthcare institution capable of meeting the medical needs of industrial workers and their families. This initiative will ensure better, modern, and accessible healthcare services for workers and their dependents in Sialkot, he added.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif also addressed the issue of corruption, stating that it is a menace that has deeply penetrated the country. He emphasized that combating corruption is a collective responsibility. Referring to recent developments at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), he attributed them to corruption and the establishment of what he described as a nexus aimed at financial gains.
He considered the incidents at PIMS as a “wake-up call” and a warning that immediate corrective measures are necessary. The Defence Minister noted that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the major tragedy at PIMS, expressing hope that the government's actions would produce tangible results.