LAHORE, Oct 9: The Punjab government has approved the establishment of the Nawaz Sharif Medical College, Gujrat, and revised the plan of the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology (FIC). Both projects will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 2.03 billion.

Official sources told APP that the decisions were taken at a meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), Planning and Development department, Punjab.

Over-riding a previous plan which proposed that a project implementation unit (PIU) be set up and consultants be hired at a cost of Rs 500 million, the PDWP formulated a fast-track plan by forming a three-member committee comprising DCO (in-charge), EDO Health and Medical Superintendent of Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital, Gujrat, to give a final shape to the medical institution project.

The college will be attached with the Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital.

The committee made a drastic reduction in the consultancy fee, from Rs 500 million to Rs 1 (one) million.

The Punjab government decided to allocate land measuring 145 kanals for the project from the premises of Pak Swedish Technical Institute, Gujrat, and another chunk of 150 kanals from Jinnah Public School, Gujrat, for the construction of the medical college.

The MBBS classes in the college would commence from the current session, sources said.

The PDWP also approved the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology project at a revised cost of Rs1528.353 million. The project was originally approved by the PDWP in 2005 at a cost of Rs 1032.353 million, but later the health department submitted a revised PC-1 at a cost of Rs 1758.387 million.

The health department submitted the revised PC-1 due to various factors.—APP