Rawalpindi: Shahbaz lays foundation stone of Rs 2.6 billion institute of cardiology

[Naveed Yaseen]

Rs2.6 billion project likely to be completed within one year

Saeed Ahmed
Rawalpindi
Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the Rs2.6 billion Institute of Cardiology at Rawalpindi Medical College Staff Colony along Rawal Road.

While laying the foundation stone, he directed the concerned authorities to complete the mega health project within one year. The cardiology institute, comprising 220 beds, would have all modern health facilities.

The institute will be completed under the supervision of Punjab Health Department. The provincial government has initially allocated Rs100 million for work on the institute. The remaining money for the project will be released in phases.

Talking to journalists after laying the foundation stone of the cardiology institute, Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that his government was trying to provide better health and education facilities to people all over Punjab.

“Projects like cardiology institute, Danish School in Takht Pari and different traffic projects are gifts for the people of Rawalpindi from the Punjab government.”

Responding to a query, the chief minister said that the issue of award of NA-55 ticket would be resolved on the return of PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif from abroad.

To another query, he said that the Punjab government will construct underpasses at all intersections of Murree Road instead of the elevated expressway.

He said that the plan has been changed because of the increase in cost of the elevated expressway. According to him, the project was initially estimated to cost around Rs16 billion, but now the project cost has risen to Rs30 billion. Keeping in view the situation, the Punjab government has decided to construct underpasses instead of the elevated expressway.

He said that the government of Punjab has constituted a committee comprising members of the NLC, C&W and Nespak besides multinational companies. The committee has been directed to submit a report in this regard by October 18. After evaluation by consultants, the cost of underpasses would be estimated and allocated after approval.

Later, the Punjab chief minister paid a visit to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital where he laid the foundation stone of the new block of ICU Ward. It would be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

He also inaugurated the new block of the Psychiatric Department at BBH and visited different sections of the hospital and listened to the problems of patients. He directed the medical superintendent and deputy medical superintendent to resolve grievances of patients and report to him.

After inaugurating mega health projects, the chief minister went to Mauza Takht Pari near Rawat where he laid the foundation of the Danish School, which would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs200 million on 2,400-kanal land.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that 90 per cent quota of admissions would be allocated for poor children, while the remaining 10 per cent will be left for people who could afford to educate their children in the school.

He constituted a committee of board of governors for looking into the affairs of the institution. The chief minister directed the concerned authorities to complete construction work in the shortest possible time. Strict security measures were adopted during the visit of the chief minister.

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