SIALKOT, Sept 5: The Punjab government has finally shelved the project of Sialkot Medical College after three years without giving any reason. The district government had decided to undertake the project in collaboration with the business community at a cost of Rs450 million — to be shared by the businessmen and the provincial government.

Governor Khalid Maqbool had laid the foundation of the college in the nursing hostels of Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital on Sept 14, 2002. However, the mega project remained in doldrums due to the alleged interference of Gujranwala and Gujrat based politicians belonging to the ruling party who wanted to shift this medical college from Sialkot to Gujranwala or Gujrat.

Meanwhile, the government admitted students to various colleges of the province on the quota of Sialkot Medical College.

The situation became grave as teachers and other faculties proposed to be appointed at the new college declined to join the institution.

Later, the provincial government had also refused to give any financial grant for the project on the pretext of non-availability of the medical faculties.

The business community had offered the government to bear all the expenditures and urged it not to shelve this project because of the non-availability of funds. But, the provincial government rejected that offer and shelved the plan.

By shelving the project, the government has put the future of the students at stake.

Meanwhile, the Sialkot business community has criticized the step and urged the government to revive the project in the larger interest of the people of the region.