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LAHORE, Jan 11 (APP):Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that the first phase of the Cancer Care Clinic of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research (NSICT&R) is expected to be inaugurated soon.
He expressed these views during his visit to the under-construction institute on Sunday.
Former Chief Secretary Punjab and Chairman Board of Governors of NSICT&R, Captain (retd) Zahid Saeed, accompanied the minister. They reviewed the ongoing construction work and were briefed on the project’s master plan.
The health minister stated that the Punjab government was constructing a 915-bed state-of-the-art Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research in Lahore at an estimated cost of Rs 72 billion. He added that work on the project is underway round the clock to ensure timely completion.
Khawaja Salman Rafique said that NSICT&R will be the first full-fledged government cancer hospital in Pakistan.
He directed the Infrastructure Development Authority of Punjab (IDAP) to ensure that the project is made functional within the stipulated timeframe. “No cancer patient will be denied treatment. Patients from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and other provinces will also be provided free treatment at this government cancer hospital,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Captain (retd) Zahid Saeed said that a fixed timeline has been set for the completion of the first phase and that the progress of the project is being continuously monitored.
Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Dr Adnan Khan, Professor Mahmood Ayaz, Professor Zeba, Additional Secretary Technical Dr. Muhammad Waseem, CEO IDAP Captain (retd) Shah Mir, along with other officers, representatives of the executing agency IDAP, the project director and concerned contractors were also present during the visit.