This project is coming to an end this June, however efforts are being made for its extension. PHOTO: FILE
For health projects in the city, the government has allocated Rs1,236 million to the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) for the next fiscal year under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
According to PSDP documents, of the total allocation, Rs743 million have been earmarked for eight ongoing health projects as opposed to 11 last fiscal year and Rs493 million for five new schemes compared to Rs383 million last year.
According to the PSDP documents four new schemes have been initiated by CADD. The establishment of a cancer hospital for Rs200 million is a major project.
Some projects have been struck off the list in 2014-15 including the Prime Minister’s Special Initiative for Management of Dengue Fever and Pollen Allergy, Islamabad, construction of hostels for lady doctors at Pims and Polyclinic hospital. Projects for persons with disabilities (PWDs) have also not been included in the list of schemes for the FY 2014-15 unlike last year.
The official expressed concern over the exclusion of PM’s Special Initiative for Management of Dengue Fever and Pollen Allergy Project from the list. “The exclusion of this mega project is shocking as the federal government is left with no money to combat dengue fever.”
This project is coming to an end this June, however efforts are being made for its extension. The Planning Commission has asked us to include it in non-development projects, said the official.
The allocation of funds for the extension of Polyclinic hospital is good news, according to the official. “A new block for Polyclinic hospital will be constructed after which the old building will be demolished and then reconstructed.”
The official said CADD was satisfied over the amounts allocated for the projects, but a bit upset over the exclusion of some mega projects. There has been an increase in the amount allocated to a majority of the schemes for the fiscal year 2014-15 compared to 2013-14.
The amount for the Bone Marrow Transplant Centre at Pims has been increased from Rs10 million earmarked last year to Rs33 million. For establishment of a federal breast cancer screening centre at Pims, Rs157 million have been allocated this time compared to Rs65 million last year. For the establishment of a cardiac surgery facility at Pims, Rs299 million have been allocated, compared to Rs215 million last year.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University Pims Vice-Chancellor Professor Javed Akram said the amounts allocated for ongoing projects in Pims under PSDP were sufficient.
“The Bone Marrow Transplant Centre is being funded by the Italian government and hopefully it will be completed within two to three months.” A breast cancer screening facility and a separate unit for cardiac surgery will also be completed by the end of this year, he added.
The amount allocated for the safe blood transfusion services project to minimise the risk of contracting disease in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is Rs100 million like last year.
There has been a significant decrease, however, in the allocation for the Population Welfare Services in Islamabad district which has been slashed from Rs100 million last year to Rs60 million. There has also been a decrease in the amount allocated to the Regional Training Institute, Islamabad from Rs36 million to Rs10 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2014.
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