Polythene bags major cause of lung cancer, NA body told

A parliamentary panel was informed on Tuesday that excessive use of polythene bags is a major cause of lung cancer in the country. This was revealed before the National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology, which met with Sajid Mehdi in the chair here at COMSATS University.
The committee was briefly apprised of the excessive use of polythene bags which are a major cause of lungs cancer, stoppage of sewage draining system and disruption of environment. These are absorbed into soil and slowly toxic chemicals are released. Officials informed the committee that production of plastic bags must be eliminated but around 35,000 people are linked with this industry and they must be cared of.
The committee was also briefed about the working, performance, achievements and issues being faced by the COMSATS. The COMSATS rector informed the committee that cases about irregularities are under investigation by FIA and NAB. He told that COMSATS has seven campuses in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He urged that a one-time funding of Rs 500 million should be given to the university to oust it from deficit, which was Rs 900 million but reduced during the last two years. The university finances about 75 percent of the budget from its own resources while the remaining 25 percent or around Rs 1.75 billion are given by the government.
The committee urged that one new campus each of COMSATS University should be constructed in Karachi and Balochistan. However, the committee was told that matter of land acquisition is under consideration with government of Sindh. The committee was informed that 150 acres of land have been acquired in Balochistan, but funds are awaited from the federal government. "We have the ability to open two new campuses every year, but we are not getting funds from the Higher Education Commission (HEC)," the official informed the committee.
The committee lauded the efforts of a student for inventing a speedy wound healing molecule for diabetics and burn victims. A huge investment is required to launch it but unfortunately, nobody in Pakistan could invest and out of compulsion the COMSATS had to sign MoU with an Australian company. Now it is in clinical research process and it would take more than one-and-a-half-year to get into the market.
MNAs Engr Usman Khan Tarakai, Rahat Aman Ullah Bhatti, Abdul Shakoor Shad, Sobia Kamal Khan, Mukhtar Ahmed Malik, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Zaib Jaffar, Dr Samina Matloob, Sikandar Ali Rahoupoto, Naveed Aamir Jeeva and Aftab Hussain Siddique, besides the officials of the ministry attended the meeting.