MIANWALI: The Punjab government has finally released Rs8.85 million for completion of civil works and purchase of medical instruments for the diagnostic centre project lying incomplete here for over a year.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in his last tenure had announced a diagnostic centre at Mianwali on public demand as part of an upgrade scheme of the local district headquarters (DHQ) hospital.

Work was launched on March 24, 2011, on the project that was scheduled to be completed by 23 March, 2013.

The government released only Rs120.30m for completion of the project but the amount proved insufficient because of variation in construction cost with the passage of time. So, because of lack of funds the project could not be completed within the stipulated time.

Giving details to Dawn, District Coordination Officer Aftab Ahmed said as funds were now available, he had directed the contractor and officials of building department to complete the project within a month so that the diagnostic centre could be made functional at the earliest.