PESHAWAR, March 9: Pakistan Tehrik Insaf chief Imran Khan has praised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for providing land for the construction of the second Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Peshawar.

“I appreciate the Awami National Party government for giving Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust a precious 50 kanals plot (for cancer hospital in Peshawar), which will be accessible to patients. In Karachi, we returned a land allotted by the provincial government for the construction of a cancer hospital because that was away from the city and the area lacked infrastructure, where construction of a quality cancer facility was not feasible,” he said after laying foundation of the hospital in Hayatabad Township along with two cancer patients.

Mr Imran, who is the founding chairman of the SKMT Board of Governors, said the provincial government had made it possible for the trust to materialise the project of the cancer hospital, which would have the latest equipment and facilities identical to those available in UK and US.

“All that will not only benefit patients but also advance medical education,” he said.

The PTI chairman appealed to the people to generously contribute money to the project.

“The second Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Peshawar was long needed as around 25 per cent cancer patients visiting our canner hospital in Lahore came from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the adjoining Federally Administered Tribal Areas. They undergo unspeakable ordeal when they are not hospitalised due to lack of beds there,” he said.

Mr Imran said the cancer hospital in Peshawar to be built at the cost of Rs2billion would be completed in two and half years and would benefit the local patients and those from neighbouring Afghanistan.

He said the people of Pakistan had tremendous potential for social welfare programmes.

“Money flows in when you commit to do something. This is what we have learnt from SKMH, Lahore in 1994. At times, we didn’t have the money to pay salary to employees but operations never stopped because Almighty Allah helps you in noble deeds,” he said.

He also praised Qazi Laiq Ahmad, director of Peshawar Development Authority, for his cooperation in the launch of the cancer hospital project.

Provincial Information Minister Mina Iftikhar Hussain, who was also in attendance, praised Mr Imran for building Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Lahore with the contributions from the people of Pakistan.

“It is a matter of great achievement that our people will get a cancer hospital for free treatment. The provincial government has already donated Rs50 million for it besides waiving its taxes,” he said.

On the occasion, philanthropists donated Rs120.6 million for the project.