Sabika's death shows that extremism is global issue: PM Abbasi

Says entire nation grieving with victim's family

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday condoled with the bereaved family of Sabika Sheikh, a student who died in the school fire incident in Texas USA on May 18.
The premier along with Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair visited the house of Sabika in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi and expressed his deep sorrow on the sad demise of the Pakistani student.
Abbasi called Sabika an intelligent student and said the whole nation is sad on her death. He prayed to God to give the family courage to bear the loss.
“Extremism was not an issue limited to a particular country or region,” the premier said, adding it is a global issue. He urged the international community to find out the real reasons behind the incident.

“We have to learn from each other’s experiences,” Abbasi stressed.
Sabika’s father said that Nawaz Sharif has specially sent the premier for condolence. We have a great respect for him and we are thankful to him. Uncle of Sabeeka Abdul Jalil Sheikh said that the family is thankful to the PM and the Governor of Sindh.



Cancer hospital fundraising
Later the prime minister addressed a fundraising event of Cancer Care Hospital here at Governor House.
He announced that the federal government will soon start a cancer control programme on federal and provincial level.
He also announced Rs100m contribution from the federal government for the Cancer Care Hospital.
It will be run on public-private partnership, he said, adding that the government will provide more facilities for prevention and treatment of cancer across the country, he added.
Moreover, Abbasi lamented over the treatment facilities in the country and said according to the statistics and other information he has received, “75 per cent patients die due to insufficient medical care.”
He said that Cancer Care Hospital was providing good facilities. He appealed to philanthropists to cooperate in welfare projects for the treatment of cancer.
Furthermore, the government is taking steps to promote the health sector in the country, he said.
Abbasi lauded the setting up of a cancer hospital in Karachi. He said that it is a project involving Rs9bn and congratulated Dr Shehryar and his team for making it possible.
He suggested that a trust should be set up to run with good coordination.
He said that the government was providing tax exemption on welfare projects according to the law. There are not enough health resources in the country but the gap can be bridged with the help of the private sector, he added.

He said that immunisation programmes for dangerous diseases like polio, TB, malaria etc. are successfully running under the federal and the provincial governments and now the programme will be extended to cover cancer as well.

Sabika’s body will arrive in Karachi on Monday night. The girl’s paternal uncle Abdul Jalil Sheikh told the media that her funeral prayers will held on Tuesday at a local mosque. He added that Sabika will be buried in the Azeem Pura graveyard after the last rites have been performed.