MULTAN, March 20: The Multan Institute of Cardiology (MIC), aimed at providing modern cardiac care to the people of south Punjab, could not be completed even after four years of its inauguration on account of funds shortage.

The 210-bed institute promises facilities like heart transplant, angiography and other diagnostic services after becoming fully operational.

In 2002, Governor Khalid Maqbool announced during his visit to Multan that the provincial government would establish a state-of-the-art cardiac institute here.

On Feb 26, 2005, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi announced at a public meeting that the institute would start functioning in May the same year.

For the Rs970 million project, the Punjab government allocated only Rs150 million in its 2003-04 annual budget.

In 2004-05 budget, more than Rs150 millions were allocated for the institute, with the promise that all the remaining funds would be release after the next provincial budget of 2005-06.

This time again the government failed to fulfill its commitment and only Rs300 million were allocated for the purpose. It was announced that the project would complete till June 30, 2006. However, in 2006-07 budget only a meager sum of Rs100 million was allocated for the project.

The chief minister inaugurated the outpatient department of the institute on Dec 5, 2005.

A PPP MPA, Dr Javed Siddiqi, deplored the government apathy to the health care services in south Punjab. He said the region was being neglected in this respect and that would increase sense of deprivation among south Punjab people.

He said despite the passage of four years, the government did not release all the required funds for the project, which was resulting in hike in the project cost.

He alleged that a major chunk of resources was being allocated for the upper and central Punjab, which was unjust.

When contacted, the deputy-director of project, Dr Mushtaq Ahmed, said he was not authorised to comment on the issue.

However, neither project director Dr Masood Ahmad Cheema, nor the provincial health minister could be contacted for their comments.