LAHORE, Feb 19: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that the establishment of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre was a “resolve of an individual and needed to be emulated by everyone”.

Speaking at the launch of Shaukat Khanum Endowment Fund at the hospital, Gen Musharraf said the state-of-the-art caner hospital was the biggest humanitarian and welfare institution. “I mean every word,” he added.

People, he pointed out, donated generously if they found sincerity of the purpose, honesty and dedication. He called the private sector to come forward and venture for social welfare and humanitarian projects.

The president was hopeful that Imran Khan would now be able to generate resources to establish a state-of-the-art cancer hospital in Karachi.

Visiting various sections of the hospital, the president said he had found the hospital offering its facilities without discriminating between the “haves” and “have-nots”. He said it was a miracle that the majority of poor patients were being offered the costly treatment free of cost.

Gen Musharraf announced the establishment of a postgraduate medical institute attached with the SKMCH&RC to promote quality higher education.

He also announced a donation of Rs20 million on behalf of the federal government, Rs10 million on behalf of the Punjab government and Rs200,000 from his mother for the hospital. He told the Punjab governor to look into the matter of some hospital land and resolve it.

Earlier, Imran Khan said SKMCH&RC was a centre of excellence and striving to maintain its standards at international level. Mr Khan said that about 20 acres had been acquired in Karachi with the help of the Sindh government.