The Union Health Minister on July 16 sought a detailed proposal from Punjab for dedicating the second AIIMS in the state to the 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev, in response to a request made by Chief Minister in this regard.

The CM had raised the issue during his meeting with the health minister. The senior Congress leader said he had in separate letters to the Union health and finance ministers sought the Centre's permission to dedicate the second All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Punjab to this special occasion.

He pointed out that Union Finance Minister had assured consideration of the matter after the release of the Union Budget, a statement by the Punjab government said. The northern state's first AIIMS is coming up at Bathinda, while the second one is proposed either at Ludhiana or Jalandhar.

Talking to media after his meeting with the Union Health Minister, the Punjab chief minister said the Rs 250-crore PIMS Jalandhar building can be used for this purpose (setting up the second AIIMS). He also said that all clearances for the AIIMS Bathinda project have been given by the state government.

The CM said the health minister assured that he would consider the demand after receiving a formal proposal. The chief minister also sought the approval from the minister for PGI's satellite centre at Ferozepur. Punjab has transferred land to PGI, but the file is pending approval with the Union Health Ministry.

The border district of Ferozepur is one of the 120 backward aspirational districts selected by NITI Aayog for development, he said. The drug menace faced by the state also came up for discussion in the meeting, with him reiterating his demand for a national policy on drugs. The chief minister said he sought central assistance for drug treatment, to which the health minister said his department would be happy to support the state's efforts.