ISLAMABAD: Medical experts in Pakistan have raised concern over growing number of breast cancer cases in the country, reported the local media on Sunday, while seeking lifestyle changes and greater public awareness about the disease.
Every year, thousands of women in Pakistan lose their lives to the disease which can be cured if it is diagnosed at an early stage.
Medical experts in the country addressed an awareness program organized by Himmel Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with the Karachi Press Club on Saturday in which they described the disease as the most common form of cancer among women across the world.
“One out of eight Pakistani women develops breast cancer at some stage of her life while thousands of lives are lost to the disease every year,” Professor Naila Zahid, head of the oncology department at the Liaquat National Hospital, was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper.
“One of the major barriers to early diagnosis is lack of awareness and women’s shyness in discussing their health issues and going for any kind of breast examination,” she added.
Zahid maintained it was important for women to carry out regular self-examination to make it easier for doctors to diagnose the disease early.
“Women below age 40 should perform regular self-examinations and women above 40 should undergo regular mammography screening,” she said.
Other experts emphasized lifestyle changes while addressing the ceremony.
“We need to change our lifestyle,” Dr. Adnan Abdul Jabbar, head of Ziauddin Hospital’s oncology department, said. “Today, we have a sedentary lifestyle, eating a lot of junk food, frozen and processed products. People need to have a healthy diet and lifestyle, which would help protect the body.”
He also pointed out that breast cancer could be found among men, though he added their number was far less than women.
Medical experts say one in eight women in Pakistan suffers from breast cancer
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Medical experts say one in eight women in Pakistan suffers from breast cancer
- Doctors emphasize regular self-examination to ensure early diagnosis of the disease
- Medical practitioners urge people to change their sedentary lifestyle, bad eating habits
Islamabad says Saudi Wafi Energy considering $100 million investment to expand Pakistan operations
- Wafi Energy, an affiliate of Saudi Arabia’s Asyad conglomerate, became majority shareholder of Shell Pakistan Limited in 2024
- Investment to expand retail and storage infrastructure, modernize operations and pursue technology-driven initiatives
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s Wafi Energy Pakistan company is considering a potential investment of $100 million over the next two to three years to expand its retail infrastructure, modernize operations and pursue digitization initiatives in Pakistan, the Finance Division said on Monday.
Wafi Energy, an affiliate of the Saudi Asyad conglomerate, became the majority shareholder of one of the country’s oldest multinationals, Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL), in November 2024.
Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met a delegation of Wafi Energy Pakistan at the Finance Division on Monday, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to macroeconomic stability, enhanced investor confidence and stronger foreign exchange buffers.
“The Wafi Energy Pakistan delegation shared its confidence in Pakistan’s economic outlook and indicated that the company is considering potential investment of up to USD 100 million over the next two to three years,” the Finance Division said.
It added that the investment would be used to expand Wafi Energy Pakistan’s retail and storage infrastructure, modernize operations and pursue technology-driven improvements, including digitization initiatives.
The delegation also stressed the importance of a stable, transparent and predictable policy framework to support long-term investment in the energy sector. It welcomed continued engagement with the Pakistani government.
“The finance minister reaffirmed the government’s focus on reforms, privatization, digitization and public-private partnerships, while noting that ongoing strategic engagement with international partners will continue to strengthen economic cooperation and investor confidence,” the statement added.
Aurangzeb also referred to Pakistan’s ongoing high-level strategic engagement with international partners, including Saudi Arabia, noting that such engagements provide valuable platforms to strengthen economic cooperation and investment ties.
Wafi Energy has two retail stations in Pakistan’s Karachi and Rawalpindi cities. It takes particular interest in green initiatives, building a 730-foot plastic road outside its Karachi head office with 2.5 tons of waste lubricant bottles.
Its retail site in Rawalpindi was built using 7,700 kilograms of plastic waste, equivalent to more than 5.8 million pieces of end-of-life plastics, infused into construction materials.
Last week, Wafi Energy Pakistan announced it had signed an agreement with Hyundai’s official manufacturing partner in Pakistan to supply premium lubricants for the company’s vehicles.
