q ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday ignored a demand for establishment of a health sciences university at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).

Both Federal Minister for Health Nasir Khan and the Pims Executive Director, Dr Fazle Hadi, had requested the prime minister in their speeches at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Medical Tower to announce plans for establishment of the university. However, the prime minister did not mention the issue in his speech.

Later the health minister came up with an explanation that the prime minister was to speak about the proposed university but he forgot to mention it. “I spoke to the prime minister on this issue and he said it had slipped his mind,” the minister told this reporter.

“I had mentioned the university in my speech only to remind the prime minister about it, otherwise, the federal government, the Higher Education Commission and other authorities concerned had all agreed on establishment of the university at the hospital,” Dr Fazle Hadi said.

He said a lot of work had already been done and the university would be a reality soon.

The 16-storey multi-purpose tower, to be built at a cost of Rs2.2 billion, is a brainchild of the prime minister and is aimed at providing modern medical care to the people at one place.

APP Adds: Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, the prime minister said the government was taking appropriate measures for providing quality healthcare to the common man and was committed to making Pakistan a symbol of pride in terms of medical facilities.

Shaukat Aziz said the project would bring about a positive change in the medical history of the country and termed it a gigantic step forward which would not only ensure best medical facilities but also create about 2,000 jobs for doctors, paramedics and other staff.

For treatment of heart diseases, latest equipment had already arrived at the Pims, enlisting Pakistan to be among a few countries of Asia having the same facility, the prime minister added.