LAHORE: According to World Health Organisation’s report, Pakistan is ranked fifth among TB high-burden countries worldwide, with around 510,000 new tuberculosis (TB) cases and almost 15,000 developing drug resistant TB cases every year. Keeping in view that the country needs mega efforts to get rid of this lethal disease, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center (PKLI&RC) conducted a clinical seminar on Thursday to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day with an aim to raise public awareness about the distressing health and social consequences of TB. According to a statement, the hospital aims at accelerating efforts to end the TB epidemic in Pakistan and the whole world at large as this deadly disease continues to be the top infectious killer worldwide, claiming over 4,500 lives a day. Following the theme of World TB Day 2018 – ‘Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world’ – PKLI&RC is set to assume a leading role in supporting the noble cause of spreading awareness in the community, the statement added. Dr Javed Hayat Khan, consultant pulmonologist at PKLI&RC, highlighted the significance of the day and presented an overview of the disease in Pakistan. He delivered a detailed presentation on the causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment of the disease. A large number of PKLI&RC’s consultants, paramedical staff and pharmacists attended the seminar. In his closing remarks, PKLI&RC’s President and CEO Prof Dr Saeed Akhtar emphasised the need to work with government officials, public figures, health workers, nurses, doctors, NGOs, media and other partners in Pakistan to increase awareness about TB in the society. He mentioned that PKLI management was determined to contribute to research relating to other medical fields as the hospital was not just focusing on the burden of kidney and liver diseases in Pakistan, it but also working to put up a fight against other fatal diseases such as TB. Published in Daily Times, March 23rd 2018.