PTI govt invited terrorists to Swat: PM

LAHORE:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday claimed that the previous PTI government and “some people” together invited terrorists to settle in Swat.

Addressing a public gathering in Kasur, the premier maintained that the next prime minister of the country would be his brother, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

He added that the former three-time premier would serve the country again like he had done so in the past.

The prime minister pledged to construct a motorway in Kasur, bringing prosperity there.

In April this year, tens of thousands of residents took to the streets in Swat to protest against the deteriorating law and order situation and presence of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in their district.

Since the Afghan Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021, the TTP and similar groups have attacked security forces 368 times, resulting in the death of 652 personnel and 1,049 injured.

Earlier, PM Shehbaz said it was their collective responsibility to serve the ailing humanity, especially the poor and deserving people.

“All those, who were tasked with the onus to serve humanity, should strive for the provision of free-of-charge health and education facilities to the poor segments of the society,” the premier added while addressing a conference arranged at Lahore’s Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI).

The event was held to create awareness about the elimination of Hepatitis-C in the country.

The premier further pointed out that the poor and deserving people could be served by setting up health facilities like the PKLI in line with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the nation, and in accordance with the concept of the welfare state.

He termed the conference as a historic event, saying that he had always desired to see the PKLI working on the pattern of Johns Hopkins of the US.

PM Shehbaz recalled that the PKLI’s journey started in 2014, when he had requested Dr Saeed Akhtar to set up a state-of-the-art institute for kidney and liver diseases in Punjab.

Read Afghan citizens aiding suicide bombers, says Shehbaz

He continued that the institute was set up as an autonomous body to rid it of any official red tape.

The premier informed the participants of the conference that the project was launched in 2015 and completed in 2018 when the first kidney transplant was performed.

He added that the PKLI had achieved another milestone by performing around 1.000 transplants so far.

The prime minister said the PKLI now had Rs15 billion in its trust fund that would help in providing free treatment to the deserving people.

He pointed out that previously, liver disease patients had to be sent to neighbouring countries for their treatment.

The premier said the PKLI was set up in the country that entertained patients irrespective of class and without discrimination.

He regretted that the poor people in the country suffered while the rich had all the resources to avail treatment for themselves at the best facilities in the world.

The prime minister said during 2018, about 26 Hepatitis-C filter clinics were set up in Punjab under the umbrella of the PKLI where patients were treated with great care and free medicines.

He explained that the programme was subsequently halted because of politics, but now these filter clinics had again started functioning and treatment was being provided across the province.

About the Hepatitis-C programme, PM Shehbaz said a sum of Rs35 billion was provided by the Centre on the basis of half percent contribution by the provincial governments.

Prior to that, the prime minister launched the national Hepatitis-C elimination programme and performed the groundbreaking of the PKLI University.

PM Shehbaz also appreciated the landscaping work of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) at the PKLI.

On his Twitter handle, the prime minister shared his thoughts along with a combination of pictures of the entrance of the institute.

“A breathtaking view of the landscape adorning the entrance to the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI). Public places, especially hospitals, should wear a friendly look,” he wrote.

The premier also commended LDA Director General Muhammad Ali Randhawa and the supervision of Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi.

(With input from APP)