KARACHI, July 7: The Provincial Minister for Planning and Development, Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari, on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a 36-bed hospital in Gulberg Town. The hospital will have an administration block, an OPD, pathological lab, casualty, operation theatre, 36-bed ward, X-ray and ultrasound facilities. Its construction will cost Rs22.522 million.

The minister on the occasion recalled that the foundation stone of the hospital was laid in Dec 1991, but the project was held in abeyance by subsequent governments.

He said it had always been his party’s commitment that people should be provided all basic facilities.

Mr Bukhari assured that parliamentarians of his party would make every effort to ensure prudent utilisation of funds for development schemes and also try to solve the problem of water supply to Gulberg Town from the MPAs’ funds.

He directed the concerned officials to complete the project within stipulated time, adding that the government of Sindh would provide required funds. He said special care be taken of quality.

Addressing the ceremony, MQM MPA Reehana Nasreen said the hospital would be completed in July 2006.—APP