ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated both the general public and the medical staff on the robotic surgery program’s launch at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI). The prime minister said, “Alhamdulillah, the efforts for liver and kidney treatment in Pakistan are bearing fruit.
He said that the establishment of PKLI was done so that the nation would have a state-of-the-art facility for the treatment of kidney and liver disease. A top-notch liver and kidney treatment facility has been made available in the nation at the PKLI. He continued, “PKLI will turn into the John Hopkins of Pakistan.”
The prime minister said that the PKLI could have progressed more if former chief justice Saqib Nisar had not intervened just to get a salary raise for his brother.
He hoped that the PKLI would play its role in reducing the mortality ratio and prevention of kidney and liver disease which was on surge in the country. The current mortality ratio of kidney disease stands at 2.77 which needed to be addressed through effective measures.
The prime minister resolved that the government would establish PKLI-like state-of-the-art hospitals in other parts of the country.
He said that the previous government had been using the technology to target government institutions and political adversaries but the incumbent government used it for the public welfare as the provision of education and health facilities was its priority.
He said the course of public welfare has been revived which was disrupted in 2018.
“I will not give up the course of public welfare, whatsoever the cost is,” he commented.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to immediately confiscate the luxury vehicles being used illegally in the country despite the expiry of the Carnet-de-Passage.
A Carnet-de-Passage is an international agreement between two countries that allows the temporary importation of a car without having to pay the custom duties.
The prime minister, who took notice of such vehicles and chaired a special meeting on the subject, questioned as why the relevant department failed to act against such vehicles well in time.
He also directed the formation of an inquiry committee to take strict action against the officials found involved in misuse of the scheme or those who showed negligence in this regard.
The prime minister asked the Federal Board of Revenue to compile the data on such vehicles which had completed their allowed limit under the scheme.
He was briefed on the method of entry and exit of such vehicles. During the meeting, the luxury vehicles were also pointed out which were still being used despite the expiry of the Carnet-de-Passage limit.
Federal ministers Rana Sanaullah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Bajwa and relevant senior officers attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here on Wednesday and presented him with a donation cheque of Rs 8 million for the PM’s Relief Fund for Earthquake Victims of Turkiye and Syria. The minister presented the donation cheque on behalf of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Defence Minister Khwaja Asif was also present.
