The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) in collaboration with The Diabetes Centre (TDC) Islamabad organized an awareness session on diabetes care. Dr. Asjad Hameed, Chairman, The Diabetes Center, Islamabad gave a detailed presentation on diabetes. He highlighted the diabetes causes and its preventive measures. He said that diabetes affects all vital organs of the body and should be taken very seriously. He said that 26% people in Pakistan were involved in diabetes and if no preventive measures were taken, it could reach 30-35 percent in a few years. He said that the government should take measures to control this disease otherwise it could turn into a national crisis.

Shehzad Lodhi Head of Marketing and Communications of TDC said that the Centre was operating on a 60:40 model as 60 percent patients were treated from donations and 40 percent were being charged a fee. He said that the business community should extend full support to TDC so that it could provide better care to diabetes patients.

Speaking at the occasion, Muhammad Shakeel Munir, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that according to a report of International Diabetes Federation (IDF), diabetes was responsible for 400,000 deaths in Pakistan in 2021, which should be a cause of concern for the government. He said that one in four adults in Pakistan are living with diabetes, which is one of the highest national prevalence in the world. He said that Pakistan has now the third highest number of people living with diabetes in the world, after China and India, which is a very alarming situation. He stressed that the government should focus on controlling diabetes to save the nation from its serious implications. He appreciated the noble cause of TDC led by Dr. Asjad Hameed and assured that the business community would try to extend its cooperation in this noble mission.

Jamshaid Akhtar Sheikh Senior Vice President, Muhammad Faheem Khan Vice President ICCI, Mian Shaukat Masud former President and others also spoke at the occasion and lauded the noble cause of TDC. They assured that the business community would cooperate with TDC in taking forward its good mission.