LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Sunday presided over a meeting, which reviewed progress of work on the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute project, and establishment of hepatitis filter clinics.
The meeting decided to set up an endowment fund for the kidney and liver transplant institute.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that work on the kidney and liver medical treatment facility was in progress. He said that the 470-bed institute would be a milestone for treatment of kidney and liver patients.
Besides provision of medical facilities to kidney and liver patients, the research work will also be carried out in the institute to prevent spread of diseases, the chief minister said, adding that the first phase of the hospital would be completed by the end of this year.
Shahbaz said that the Punjab government was working hard on the hepatitis control programme, and that was why the first hepatitis filter clinic had been established at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute.
He said that hepatitis filter clinics would also be established in every district of the province, which would be run by the institute.
Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute Board of Governors (BoG) President Dr Saeed Akhtar briefed the chief minister on the projects.
Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir, chief secretary, planning and development chairman, health and finance secretaries, Punjab Infrastructure Development Authority chief executive officer, Forensic Science Agency director general and other officials concerned were present among others.
Separately, former World Bank senior vice president Prof Justin Yifu Lin called on Shahbaz Sharif here on Sunday and exchanged words on Pak-China relations, strengthening of Pakistan’s economy, establishment of industrial parks and economic stability of the country.
Prof Justin said that the chief minister had played a leading role in Pakistan’s progress, particularly Punjab, and his services for the progress and development of the people of Punjab were commendable. “We should learn from the significant achievements made by Shahbaz Sharif.”
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had given a new start to Pak-China friendship. He; however, said that some elements were hatching conspiracies against the CPEC but they won’t succeed in their nefarious designs. “The CPEC is not only the multi-billion dollars investment but it is that path of progress which will benefit the entire region.”
The Punjab government, he said, wanted to benefit from the expertise of China in the establishment of industrial parks, especially textile industrial zone. “We are thankful to Chinese leadership, government and people for their cooperation in the progress and development of Pakistan.”
The chief minister said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption. “Transparency and merit are the hallmarks of my government.”
On the occasion, Prof Justin also presented his book to the chief minister. Besides Chinese Consul General Long Dingbin, provincial ministers, including Malik Nadeem Kamran and Ayesha Ghous Pasha, Adviser Dr Umer Saif, chief secretary and renowned industrialists were also present.
