SWABI, June 2: Work on the Rs1.16 billion 200-bed Swabi hospital complex, which started in 1996 and was scheduled to be completed in 1998, is not expected to finish in near future.

Sources said work on the project had been stopped five times for political reasons and lack of funds. The work started in 1996 and it was scheduled to be completed by December 1998.

“Former chief minister Sardar Mehtab Khan got the work stopped, which remained suspended till the dismissal of the Nawaz government,” said an official.

Every time construction was suspended, authorities claimed that it was because of shortage of funds. But, the sources said, the real reason for the delays was rivalry among leaders of different parties.

When District Nazim Shahram Khan took over, he visited the site and declared that the project would be completed within three months but the decision was not implemented.

The district headquarters hospital is not able to cope with the area’s healthcare demands because of lack of facilities and patients are often referred to Peshawar or Mardan.

Former NWFP governor Syed Iftikhar Hussian Shah had announced a grant of Rs270 million for resuming work on the project in March 2000. However, later he said half of the amount should be raised by the district government, which it was not able to do.

The estimated cost of the project was revised thrice, an official said.

“If it had been completed according to the schedule, it would have cost much less than what it would cost now. With more delay the cost would increase further,” he said.

Sources said the outpatient department, casualty block, pathology, X-ray, intensive care unit, two operation theatres, ENT ward, labour room, medical, surgical and some other wards only needed final touches.

They said when the works department offered to hand over some completed portions of the project to the health department, the officials concerned had said that they would take possession of the building only after its completion.

The sources said that bungalows, nurses’ hostel and apartments for the paramedical staff had not been constructed.