Sukkur: Founder and Director of Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Captain (Retd) Dr. Raheem Bux Bhatti, has proposed the launch of a modern motorized boat service on the Rohri Canal connecting Gambat to Raipur.
Officials termed the initiative a ‘revolutionary step’ for improving healthcare access and promoting rural tourism in Sindh.
Dr Bhatti on Saturday presented the vision behind the project and urged the Sindh government to consider its expansion under a public-private partnership model.
Speaking about the proposal, he said the service was conceived to facilitate thousands of patients and their attendants who travel to GIMS each month from Khairpur, Sukkur, Naushahro Feroze and other districts.
‘This initiative is not limited to healthcare. It is about connecting people, reducing their travel burden, and creating new avenues for tourism and employment for the youth of rural Sindh,’ Dr Bhatti said.
Under the vision, the canal-front area will be developed into a public recreational zone featuring walking tracks, lighting, a food street and other amenities to attract visitors and stimulate the local economy.
Dr Bhatti added that integrating transport infrastructure with a tertiary care hospital could serve as a model for other public sector institutions across Pakistan. He called on the provincial government to support the project to maximize its social and economic impact.
Local residents and several social organizations welcomed the announcement, saying the boat service would ease travel for patients and open new opportunities in tourism, handicrafts and hospitality.
Established under the Government of Sindh, GIMS is one of the largest public sector hospitals in upper Sindh and provides several free-of-cost services, including robotic surgery, dialysis and advanced diagnostics.