SWABI: Construction work on the Gajju Khan Medical College, Swabi, has been stopped for last one and a half years due to paucity of funds, sources in the communication and works department told Dawn on Monday.

The medical college, which started admissions in 2016, has since been functioning in a makeshift building of the Bacha Khan Teaching Hospital, Shahmansoor.

The sources said girl students of the college had been adjusted in Bacha Khan Teaching Hospital building due to security reasons, while two hostels outside of the hospital had been hired by the management of the college for male students.

The sources said all the offices of the college had also been operating in the building of the Bacha Khan Hospital, leading to pressure on the hospital’s management because staffers, especially nurses, also needed accommodation.

The sources said 16.5 acres land had been acquired for construction of the college a few years ago, and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s leaders, especially MNA Asad Qaiser, had repeatedly claimed the building would be completed in 2023, but to no avail. They said the provincial government was facing severe financial difficulties.

The estimated cost of the college was Rs2.6 billion, but due to prolonged delay the cost would escalate because during the last two years the price of construction material increased manifold, the sources said.

So far, they said only Rs60 million had been released. They, however, said the college’s management hoped the PTI government would release funds soon as the party leaders had promised the same before the general elections in February.

The sources said despite all these difficulties the recent final year result of the college was 100 per cent, adding academically the college’s performance remained outstanding.

INJURED: A 14-year-old Afghan girl, identified as Nusrat Bibi, was seriously injured when a stray bullet hit her in the Gohati refugee camp on Tuesday, police officials said.

Her family said she was at home when a bullet hit her, injuring her. They said it was not clear as to where the bullet came from.

A rescue team reached the spot, provided the first aid to the girl and shifted her to Bacha Khan Teaching Hospital.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2024