ISLAMABAD, July 21: The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has asked the ministry of health to provide Rs35 million for setting up of first medical college in the capital.

This was disclosed by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) MNA from Islamabad Mian Mohammad Aslam while talking to Dawn here on Monday.

The MNA said he had held talks with the newly-appointed executive director of Pims, Fazal Hadi, to discuss the Federal Medical College project, which had already been approved by the federal government.

He said the executive director had told him that the health ministry had been approached for grant of funds and it was expected that the ministry would release the amount soon. The MNA expressed the hope that the first medical college of the capital would start functioning by year end as all necessary arrangements and formalities had been completed. The college will be set up in the premises of Pims and the funds allocation has already been made for the project.

Replying to a question, he said the college would be affiliated to the newly-established University of Health Sciences. He said hundreds of students of the federal capital were presently studying in different medical and dental colleges of the country. He said the proposed Federal Medical College would be equipped with all modern facilities. He further said experienced faculties would be appointed in the college.

The MNA regretted that the postgraduate medical classes could not be started at Pims for the past 12 years due to non- completion of the building.