HARIPUR, Feb 15: The foundation-stone of the proposed eight-bed hospital to establish a life-saving medical facility (LSMF) at village Hally of union council Barkot, Upper Khanpur, Haripur district, was laid here on Saturday.

The NWFP minister for tourism and culture, Raja Faisal Zaman, and the District Nazim, Dr Raja Amir Zaman, jointly performed the ceremony.

The project is expected to be completed by July this year.

The DCO Haripur, Captain Jehanzeb Khan; Islamabad-based field office director of Save the Children US, Coralie Turbitt; head of the RHP Haripur, Raheel Nazeer; deputy-head Dr A Bari; EDO health Dr M. Dawood; head of the district information department, Mubashar Rahim Malik; and peoples’ representatives including the Nazim and Naib Nazim of UC Barkot were also present.

The land has been provided by the local community and the district government would administer the facility under a tripartite agreement between the SCUS, the community and the local government.

The project would cost Rs3.5 million provided by the SCUS and a Haripur-based NGO.

While speaking on the occasion the provincial minister Raja Faisal Zaman appreciated the SCUS and the district government for cooperating in the project.

Ms Turbitt also termed the LSMF project fruitful cooperation among the Haripur district government, the local people, Save the Children and the Dutch government.

She said that the Pakistan government had realized that it cannot bring down maternal and children mortality on its own.