SAHIWAL: The District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) here will be upgraded with Rs1.5 billion in four years.

This was stated by Provincial Minister for Zakat and Ushr Malik Nadeem Kamran during a meeting on Tuesday. The meeting was held in the DCO Office to review ongoing mega projects in Sahiwal district.

The Sahiwal Medical College, established by the Punjab government in 2010, needed a teaching hospital. It was decided the the hospital would be upgraded to a teaching hospital, which could not happen due to lack of development funds.

Habib Jilani Venas, the development director, said the Punjab government had allocated funds now and construction work would begin in January. He added that under a new plan, an emergency ward will be established and the Rehmatul Alameen Block, cardiology, paediatric, urology and radiology departments upgraded along with establishment of medical, surgical and neurology wards.

The minister said the Qutab Shahana Bridge over the Ravi would be completed in January, reducing 40km distance between Faisalabad and Sahiwal. Construction work on connecting roads was going on rapidly.

Talking about other development projects, he said the 40km road between Sahiwal and Chichawatni would be broadened along with construction of the 16km Kacha Paka Noor Shah Road.

District Coordination Officer Dr Sajid Mahmood confirmed funds had been received for the development projects.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2014