KARACHI, Dec 31: The Sindh government has earmarked Rs8 million for the under-construction burns centre at the Civil Hospital, Karachi, the provincial health minister, Ehsan Ahmed, said here on Monday.

Though the most modern 41-bedded centre would cost about Rs400 million, the project would be completed within six to eight months with the financial assistance of philanthropists, he said during a visit to the Victoria Building, located in the premises of Dow Medical College, adjacent to the hospital where the centre is being established.

Even after the completion of the centre, the existing 20- bedded burns ward of the Civil Hospital will continue to function, he said, adding that the patients with less than 35 per cent burn injuries will be treated at the existing ward and only the serious patients will be treated at the burns centre.

The minister directed Prof Naushad Shaikh, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, to constitute a five-member team, consisting of representatives of philanthropists, who would visit the Army Burns Centre, Kharian, Punjab.—PPI