Free virus testing facility opens at ASH.

KARACHI -- Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Thursday inaugurated a laboratory at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for free-of-cost Covid-19 testing for the poor and the deserving.

Talking to media persons after the inauguration of the lab, the mayor said that it was a very important day for Karachiites for they would now have a free-of-cost Covid-19 testing lab that could test 65 people a day and a 30-bed ward equipped with 18 ventilators for Covid-19 patients.

He said that National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had provided them testing kits and assured they would give more kits in coming days. 'We took the establishment of the lab as a challenge and accomplished the task,' he added.

He said the ASH was the third largest hospital in Karachi which had reputed doctors, professors and paramedical staff 'but it only needs resources'.

He requested philanthropists to come forward and provide help to the hospital in its fight against the pandemic. The philanthropists could also provide kits and medical equipment instead of cash, he said.

Mr Akhtar said that he had approached federal and provincial governments and sought their help in this regard but to no avail. 'Free-of-cost testing facility can only continue serving masses through the support of the philanthropists,' he added.

The mayor said that he felt proud that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation had a team of highly qualified doctors who...