FAISALABAD, Dec 2: The anti-corruption establishment (ACE) has arrested two senior officials of the buildings department and three contractors for alleged misappropriation of funds in the execution of the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology project.

It made the arrests on the orders of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who inspected the project here on Tuesday. The chief minister also ordered a probe into the use of substandard material and misappropriation of funds.

The ACE arrested XENs Guhlam Abbas Bajwa and Khalid Mahmood, currently serving as district officers buildings in Sahiwal and Sheikhupura, respectively. Another ACE team picked up contractors Maqsood, Usman Khalid and Rana Riyasat from Faisalabad.

Earlier, Mr Sharif directed the authorities concerned to make the institute fully functional and appointed Dr Sheharyar as its chief executive officer and asked him to monitor its administrative and professional departments.

The chief minister said the Punjab government would try to bring the institute on a par with institutes of international standard and heart specialists from abroad would also be hired. Besides, he said a healthcare unit for children suffering from heart disease would also be set up here.

The CM directed the secretary (health) to immediately submit him a report on requirements of the institute.

He also inaugurated the upgradation project of the General Hospital, Ghulam Mohammadabad, and directed quality construction.

Apprising the CM about the hospital, the administration said an emergency block, departments of medicine, surgery, orthopaedic, E&T, children, labour, eye and a laboratory for heart-related issues would be set up at a cost of Rs1 billion.

Mr Sharif also visited the under-construction projects of Ismail Road and sewerage schemes costing Rs16 million and Rs500 million, respectively.

He asked the departments concerned to complete the projects by March instead of June next year. He also ordered the construction of a dual carriageway from Akbarabad to Ismail mosque.

Besides, the CM also visited a police station and a rural health centre in Jaranwala.

Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed, Chief Secretary Javed Mahmood, MNA Abid Sher Ali, Akram Ansari, MPAs Rana Afzal, Raza Nasrullah, Joel Aamir, regional police officer Abdul Majeed, Commissioner Zahid Saeed, DCO Saeed Wahla and others were also present.