ISLAMABAD: Senate has been told that a 500-bed modern cancer hospital will be constructed in Islamabad.
This was told by minister for National Health Saira Afzal Tarar during question hour in Senate on Friday. She said that feasibility report of this hospital has been completed and the hospital will be built at the cost of Rs 21 billion. The state of the art facilities for diagnosing cancer and its treatment will be available in this hospital.
She told the Senate that 348 students were sent to other countries for higher education during last year. These students include 155 from Punjab, 71 from Sindh, 57 from Balochistan, 40 from KP, 12 from Gilgit-Baltistan and FATA, 10 from AJK and 3 from Islamabad.
The Minister said that whatever industrial estates will be set up in the perspective of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), institutes will be established besides them for the people working there. No compromise will be made on quality of technical education in the country. Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz told the Senate that Indian authorities had arrested 450 Pakistani fishermen during last 5 years. 395 fisher men among them have been released so far.
He said that legal proceedings initiated immediately in respect of Pakistani fishermen who are arrested in India. Pakistan high commission in New Delhi makes arrangements for providing legal aid to detained fishermen, he added.
He stated that such a mechanism is being evolved between Pakistan and India that arrested fishermen are released within 4 days of their arrest.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab said that construction work on Havelian-Thakot Road is underway and this road will pass through Batgram, Mansehra and 64 villages of the area. The road is being constructed under CPEC project.
He told the Senate that WAPDA was providing funds for construction of Bhasha Dam. Difficulties are being faced in construction of the dam due to problems on ownership of land with provinces.