Karzai asks AKF to modernise state-run hospital

[Admin Khan]

KABUL: President Hamid Karzai Monday urged the Agha Khan Foundation (AKF) to help improve the state-run Jamhooriat Hospital to international standards.

Chinese engineers destroyed the old building of the hospital in 2006 and constructed a 10-storey structure with 350 beds at a cost of about $25 million.

Despite its completion last year, the new building has yet to be inaugurated.

At a meeting with Feroz Rasoul, chancellor of the Agha Khan University in Pakistan's port city of Karachi, and Karim Agha Khan's envoy to Afghanistan Ali Moji, the president raised the issue.

Karzai said the hospital should be of international standards to address the problems of Afghans, who take their patients to neighbouring countries for medical treatment. The Afghans annually spend $25 million on their treatment abroad.

The Agha Khan Foundation plans to set up a modern hospital in Kabul by using the new building for the Jamhooriat Hospital. It will help Afghans ensure the treatment of their patients at home, Feroz assured.

Afghan nurses would be trained at the well-equipped hospital, he added.

Acting public health minister, Dr. Suraya Dalil, and Karzai's security advisor, Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, also attended the meeting, a statement from the Presidential Palace said.

Karzai directed the acting minister to cooperate with the Agha Khan Foundation in opening the hospital as soon as possible.

Hi, I am the source.

[Dust]

If the reason for not wanting help from the Ismailis is because they might influence religious direction and policy within Afghanistan, then what do you Muslims make of you yourselves who are living in non-Islamic countries?

I think time has come for my fellow countrymen to set aside your difference and think with your sense of humanity and stop thinking with you self-righteous religious yard-sticks.

If religion is meant that you should live in destitution in order to preserve your religious beliefs then you people need to get acquainted with your fellow Muslims who live in non-Islamic countries where they have been given all sorts of freedom to practice their faith. In others words, they have not lost their sense of being Muslim and they are not living in destitution.

The Ismailis are very liberal Muslims, beyond belief, they will not force their own version of Islam down your throats.

[Dust]

Who does not have an agenda? Isn't life a risky business?

By the way, what is their agenda?

[Dust]

I never doubted that.

[amna.]

We are in a phase where we need foreign assistance. So rejecting aid isn't such a good idea.

[PFgulalai]

I wonder why are we so obsessed with looking for a conspiracy angle in every single act of non-muslims. This is not going to help the cave-dwellers of the Bamiyan (http://www.pashtunforums.com/world-n...esidents-6428/). Someone has to help the destitute people; if it is not "you", then let it be "others", because "you" are unable to do any contribution due to lack of resources or motivation.The only resource you have is your belief which is not going to help the poor people. If you have a better alternative than them, please bring it forward and President Karzai would rather incline towards you than to Agha Khan. Do you have the money? More importantly, can you help them right now!!!..???
Peace.

[amna.]

Gulalai, lately I am in deep love with you and your knowledge. First the study abroad thread and now this.

We can't criticize any assistance. We are in dire need of assistance.

[PFgulalai]

I am never against aid, aid should be welcomed but we should be careful what we welcome. Remember the soviets also brought us "Aid".

Jasminey, most of the "aid" from our good Muslim brothers also goes into training suicide bombers/Madrassas/mosques rather than making state of the art hospitals/schools. Presently,the majority of organizations who are helping in the aid activites are also non-muslims. As I said before, we are in no position to help ourselves on our own.We are also not helped by our Muslim brothers.Take the example of the flood in KP: How many of those big organizations with massive projects for rehabilitation are from Muslim countries?Let's be realistic some time since beggers can't be choosers.

Peace.

[Dust]

What does Afghanistan have to fear? We have been screwed, blued and tattooed, by every Tom, D!ck and Harry. It's either work as a team or allow someone else do the leading. So, far we have not been able to help ourselves. It had been over 100 years that we are beggars. Afghans have not built anything for themselves. We have always looked to others for help. ALWAYS. So, by default, we must be helped or face extinction. Our track record shows that we are pretty useless. We have a superior complex ingrained in an inferior complex, or the vice versa.

What is there to fear about the Ismailis? Because some Mullahs don't agree with them? Because some Mullahs call them kafir? If that is the case then these Mullahs have practically condemned everyone to Hell, even those who call themselves Muslim.

You people have been brainwashed and indoctrinated without realizing it. Afghans either look down on themselves based on which Islam they follow or what ethnicity they belong to. It is really pathetic.

Can anyone name one person, one group that everyone in Afghanistan trusts? One?

What is shameful is that on the one hand we are calling for Afghan unity, and we are calling for the acceptance of all of Afghan citizens as part of Afghanistan, yet when it comes to walking the talk or to put our money where our mouths are we shake.

Do we or don't we have Ismailis in Afghanistan? The answer is a big YES. Are they not allowed to help their own homeland towards progress? If it is about political influence that is worrying people, then, hey, I've got new for you: name me someone who does not care for political influence. One person. Please do the honours.

I think it is time for us to leave our hypocritical attitudes on the side and start behaving like civilized people. We work for Western giants when it comes to influencing opinion and we aid them, yet when it comes for others to benefit from help we sound the alarm bells.

The reason why this website works and functions is because there is tolerance in the administration. The admin is open to any suggestions, regardless who is giving it. Hint, hint, if we all have tolerance our homeland would get rebuilt. One of the reasons why other Afghan forums don't work is because there is so much intolerance within the administration that they can't deal with people who are intolerant. The admin here is very tolerant despite many people sending him PMs to ban people. He is cool headed, and that is why people are sticking around. He has made everyone feel at home, on his tab.

Take this very pattern and apply it to our homeland. It might work. Here a Pashtun is able to bear all sorts of complaints and still manage to keep his users happy and coming back for more. In Afghanistan, a female Ismaili Shia from the Hazarah might be able to do the trick. Very possible.

So, please people, share ideas on how we should help our homeland, but enough of this conspiracy crap.

[PFgulalai]

Great post@ Dust.Thanks.