KARACHI, June 14: A Rs23.9 million project for upgradation and rehabilitation of water supply lines, sewerage and drainage systems and renovation of washrooms has been initiated at the Civil Hospital Karachi by the management of the hospital.

The work on the infrastructure rehabilitation project began on Saturday, and under the plan, drainage and sewerage system, which is older than Pakistan, will be upgraded and improved in a period of six months.

The project has been divided in nine phases and two of the phases were kicked off on Saturday.

MS Prof Noshad Shaikh said since 1897 the number of beds at the hospital had gone up from 200 to 1,860. But a corresponding improvement in the infrastructure had not taken place.

He said power breakdowns and water shortages were a daily phenomenon. “Even minor repairs have not been carried out. This has resulted in a total mess and collapse of infrastructure.”

Prof Shaikh said the water, power and sewage breakdowns adversely affected the performance of the hospital. The role of the former governor of Sindh, Mohammadmian Soomro, and Corps Commander, Lt-Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi, in the launching of the latest project at the Civil Hospital Karachi were appreciated by him.

The roads and pathways in the hospital needed to be improved, said the MS.