ISLAMABAD: Information that even after seven years, the proposed Cardiac Centre at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) still has not become functional came as a shock for the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat.

The cost of the Rs400 million project has also now reached Rs1,262 million and there are serious design flaws in the construction of the building.

“What has happened during the last seven years is a crime, and action must be taken against it,” said Committee Chairman Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan and suggested that the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Minister Usman Ibrahim take action against the project designer to resolve the issue.

Members of National Assembly told that cost of incomplete project up by Rs862 million

The 73-bed cardiac hospital was planned in 2005 and the tender for the project worth Rs400 million was advertised in 2006 and after the completion of the long process, the contract was issued to Public Works Department (PWD) in 2007.

Much of the construction work has been completed but Pims administration has not taken possession of the building because of faulty construction. The basement is flooded during rains and water has to be pumped out, water leaks through basement and bathroom walls as well.

Doors of the building are so narrow that a bed can only pass through if it is folded which means that a patient cannot be shifted while on a bed or stretcher.

Pims Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram told the committee that civil and electrical work in the building is also very poor.

“These are the reasons because of which Pims administration and National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) refused to take possession of the building,” he said.

Pims Administrator Dr Altaf Hussain said a fact finding committee carried out an inquiry and a report has been sent to CADD.

“As the building is incomplete Pims cannot get funds to run the cardiac center because PC IV of the project cannot be approved without completion of project,” he said.

Minister CADD Usman Ibrahim said that he shocked to hear about how faulty the construction is.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2014