PESHAWAR, Aug 29: Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has approved a proposal for establishment of a modern institute for children’s diseases in Peshawar. Presiding over a meeting here on Tuesday, he said the institute would be housed in the existing building of the Sarhad Development Authority in Hayatabad.

Funds would be released for purchase of equipment for the institute, and creation of necessary posts and reshuffling of existing doctors would be approved, he added.

Peshawar District Nazim Ghulam Ali, additional chief secretary Ghulam Dastagir, secretary for health and other officials attended the meeting.

The chief minister said the children’s hospital at Haji Camp would also be upgraded as a part of the institute.

He directed that the facility should be made operational in two months.

Mr Durrani said the government would establish centres for treating mother-child health diseases in existing buildings in Peshawar.

However, he said, a full-fledged medical facility having a modern institute, a hospital and other related facilities would be set up later.

He sought a detailed report about requirements of equipment, laboratories, posts and other services to be provided at the centre so that the government could speed up the process.

The chief minister said a water supply scheme for Peshawar from the Warsak Dam was included in the provincial Annual Development Programme.