Pending project: Dar orders NUST to expedite work on teaching hospital

ECNEC approved the 500-bed hospital in 2010, project pending ever since

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has directed the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to expedite work on the NUST Teaching Hospital and School of Health Sciences.

Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) had approved the 500-bed hospital in 2010 and the Islamic Development Bank agreed to provide $61.95 million. The grant was to cover civil works as well as machinery and equipment.

However, not much work has been done ever since.

A NUST delegation led by Rector Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Asghar met the finance minister to discuss the project, said a press release issued on Friday.

The delegation briefed the minister about the project and problems faced in its completion.

Dar assured the delegation his full support and also advised them to make realistic assessments of the financial requirements of the project and expedite pending work.

The finance minister also directed his team to propose rules for reappraisal of cost of different projects if they are not completed due to technical reasons within the stipulated timeframe.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2015.