GUJRAT: Local businessmen in collaboration with overseas Pakistanis have established a cancer hospital in Gujrat.

The Gujrat Welfare Forum (GWF) has dedicated a piece of land measuring 32 marlas worth around Rs20 million at New Model Town where the hospital will be built.

Javed Butt, the president of the forum, told Dawn that initially the medical facility would be a cancer diagnostic centre which would gradually transform into a complete cancer hospital depending on the availability of resources.

Deputy Commissioner Saif Anwar Jappa had laid the foundation stone of the hospital’s building which will comprise at least five stories including a basement. A sum of Rs40 million was donated by a group of Qatar-based businessmen of Pakistani origin led by Adrees Anwar Mirza of Gujrat.

Mr Mirza had already established Basheer Begum Memorial Maternity Hospital for the needy.A delegation of expats led by Chaudhry Qamar Iqbal, president Pakistan Union Norway, along with a delegation of Qatar, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony and made the announcement of donations.

As per the project’s estimated cost of Rs300 million at least Rs150 million were required for the completion of entire building structure whereas the ground and first floor would be completed in first phase so that the diagnostic centre and initial treatment could be launched.

Mr Butt who is president of Gujrat Markazi Anjuman Tajaran (traders association) said Rs70 million had been pledged by the local philanthropists for the cancer hospital. The forum already had Rs6.5 million in its account as free cancer clinic on every Tuesday had been a regular feature for the last couple of years. The Gujrat DC said he would brief Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on the project of cancer hospital to seek further help of the Punjab government.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2021