Dr Faisal Sultan appointed PM’s assistant on health

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Chief Executive Officer Dr Faisal Sultan was appointed Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health replacing the outgoing Dr. Zafar Mirza who last week submitted his resignation after the opposition parties criticised him over dual nationality. 

Shaukat Khanum was founded by PM Imran Khan after winning the 1992 cricket world cup. 

“The Prime Minister has been pleased to appoint Dr. Faisal Sultan as the special assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination with immediate effect. Dr. Faisal Sultan shall hold the status of Federal Minister,” said the Press Information Department notification issued on Monday. 

Sultan will serve as the focal person for the government on Covid-19. He has worked as a physician on medicine and infectious diseases. He completed his graduation from the Edward Medical College, Lahore.

He also has postgraduate degrees of Diplomate American Board of Internal Medicine and Diplomate from the American Board of Infectious Diseases.

Mirza had been extremely successful in controlling the spread of coronavirus in the country bringing down the country’s transmission rates to lowest in the world. However, in a transparency drive, the cabinet ministers were forced to submit their resignations to the Prime Minister after they were reportedly holding dual nationalities. 

Wishing luck to his successor, Mirza, in a tweet said that “I am very pleased about the appointment of @fslsltn Dr. Faisal Sultan as special assistant to prime minister health. As Fed Minister, he will be able to make decisions which are important. A capable professional with a good worldview. A good friend. I wish him every success. Godspeed.”

Celebrating his work on controlling the coronavirus, Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar said “Invited @zfrmrza to the NCOC to recognize his contributions to the national covid response effort in the last several months. Thankful for the support he provided and wish him the best for his future work.”