HARIPUR: Classes in Haripur Medical College would commence from the next academic year, said Provincial Minister for Communication and Works Akbar Ayub Khan here on Tuesday.

Talking to journalists, he said basic requirements for a medical institution were already fulfilled.

He said that government had formally approved Haripur Medical College and a notification by the chief minister was issued during a meeting last week in that regard.

The minister said that search was underway to select land for the project. However, he said that responding to the demand of people of Haripur, the provincial government decided to start classes of the medical college in the building of T&T Hospital that had been lying unused for the last few years.

To a question, he said that the building was suitable from all aspects and fulfilled the requirement for commencement of classes. He said that a team of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Islamabad and provincial government would soon visit the hospital building for final go-ahead.

The minister said that provincial government also approved upgradation of district headquarters hospital as category-A heath facility, which would not only serve for the teaching purpose for Haripur Medical College but would also help to improve patents’ care.

He said that the under-construction Women and Children Hospital would also provide services to people of Haripur within the next two years.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2018