Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed deep gratitude as the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) marked a major achievement of performing 1,000 successful liver transplants.
In a statement, the prime minister said, “With the blessings of Allah Almighty, the sapling planted in 2017 has now grown into a towering tree, benefiting 4 million patients so far.”
Shehbaz Sharif recalled that in the past, conspiracies had attempted to derail PKLI’s progress, resulting in the dissolution of its Board of Governors and the suspension of its operations. However, upon assuming office in 2022, he took immediate steps to revive and fully restore the institute’s functionality.
He lauded Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for her tireless efforts in reviving PKLI to serve humanity, noting that the institution now provides free treatment to 80% of its patients, ensuring that low-income individuals receive world-class healthcare.
The premier also commended the PKLI team, particularly Dr. Saeed Akhtar, for their dedication and contribution to the institute’s success in saving countless lives.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz inaugurated the fourth phase of the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme 2025, reaffirming the government’s strong commitment to promoting education, technology, and skills development among the youth.
The event was attended by Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, senior officials, students, and alumni of previous laptop schemes. A guard of honour was presented by the Islamabad Capital Territory Police to the laptop recipients on the prime minister’s directives, while documentaries highlighted success stories from the 2023 and 2024 batches.
Addressing the ceremony, the prime minister remarked, “Today marks a historic day in Pakistan’s journey toward youth empowerment.” He emphasized that the initiative continues the vision he first launched in 2010 as Punjab’s Chief Minister to promote education, fine arts, culture, sports, and information technology. Despite natural calamities such as floods, he affirmed, “not a single penny was cut from youth development funds, because education and empowerment remain our top priorities.”
