The Punjab government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a leading Chinese organisation in genetic research to enhance collaboration in cancer treatment and other areas.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, during her visit to China, has marked a new chapter of collaboration between Pakistan and China in health, agriculture, and modern research technologies. After arriving in Yantian District from Shanghai, Maryam visited BGI Genomics, a world-renowned medical company specialising in cancer treatments.

BGI Genomics President Wang Jian met with the CM to discuss avenues of cooperation. The company will assist Punjab's Health Department in advancing genetic research and cancer treatments.

Maryam Nawaz emphasized the importance of modern medical research in improving Punjab’s health sector. She invited BGI Genomics to invest in genetic testing laboratories, medical sample transportation, and establish a state-of-the-art research center in Punjab. The company responded positively and expressed its commitment to strengthening cooperation in the future.

The CM also received a detailed briefing on genetic sequencing, DNA synthesis, and cutting-edge technologies used by BGI Genomics in healthcare, agriculture, and other fields. The briefing highlighted how genetic technology has enabled timely disease diagnosis and treatment, significantly improving healthcare outcomes worldwide.

In the agriculture sector, BGI Genomics will provide assistance in developing high-yielding seeds and training faculty at Punjab’s agricultural universities. The CM emphasized the need for a strong research culture to address pressing health and agricultural challenges.

While in Shenzhen, she travelled to Guangzhou via a high-speed railway and expressed her determination to introduce a similar system in Punjab to revolutionize the province's transportation infrastructure.

Maryam reiterated her government's commitment to modernizing Punjab’s health and agriculture sectors, stating that the establishment of a BGI Genomics facility in Punjab would be a milestone for medical and agricultural research.