BAHAWALPUR, May 30: The Institute for Neuro Sciences, which was planned to be set up in Bahawalpur, has been shifted to Lahore, District Nazim Tariq Cheema said on Friday.

Talking to Dawn, Cheema said the government had deprived the area of this institute, which was to be built with an estimated cost of Rs2 billion. He said that a Rs100 million grant, which was due to be released for PC-1 of the institute, had been withheld.

Former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi announced the institute when he visited Bahawalpur in 2007 to participate in the convocation of Quaid-e-Azam Medical College (QAMC). The institute was to be affiliated with QAMC.

QAMC Principal Prof Dr Mazharul Attique said the government had conveyed them nothing so far in writing. He however said the government had not released funds needed to initiate work on the project.

Punjab Minister for Special Education Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar said if the report of the institute’s shifting to Lahore was correct it would be brought back to Bahawalpur. He said the institute was meant for the general public, not meant for any individual or the district nazim.