GILGIT: Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan on Friday inaugurated the 52-bed Gilgit Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy (GINOR), the Gilgit-Baltistan’s first cancer hospital.

The project has been completed at a cost of Rs2.5 billion with the help of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and the federal government.

Addressing the ceremony, chief minister Khalid Khurshid said the region’s first cancer hospital was a great addition to the healthcare system of GB.

He said treatment of cancer was very expensive and it was not possible for everyone to bear the heavy costs. “As majority of the people of GB are poor, they cannot afford cancer treatment in other parts of the country. However, now they will have quality treatment in their own region,” the chief minister said.

Mr Khurshid said cancer hospitals would also be constructed in other parts of GB. He thanked federal minister for planning, development, reforms and special initiatives Asad Umar for his cooperation with the GB government in construction of the cancer hospital.

Addressing the ceremony through video link, Mr Umar said with the construction of the cancer hospital, the people of GB would not have to travel to other parts of the country for cancer treatment. He said the process of development would continue in GB.

The federal minister said the PTI government was paying special attention to development of remote areas of the country.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2022