RAWALPINDI, Dec 6 The Punjab government is spending Rs8.5 billion on social uplift projects in Rawalpindi city this fiscal year.

The projects in the field of education, communication and safe drinking water are already progressing and expected to complete by June 2010, MNA Hanif Abbasi told newsmen here on Sunday.

The two major projects in the health sector would help elevate the profile of Rawalpindi, Mr Abbasi said.

The Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, second after the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), will start functioning in two years' time. The Punjab government has allocated Rs2.6 billion for the institute, which would be built on turn-key basis and would have a state-of-the-art structure.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has issued instructions that it should be completed within 18 months.

According to Project Coordinator Dr Athar Tehsin, the 220-bed institute, an autonomous body to be managed by the Rawalpindi Medical College's (RMC's) Board of Management, will have facilities like cardiac surgery, emergency, ICU, CCU, diagnostic unit, nuclear medicine, scanning and cardiac rehabilitation.

The Punjab government has released initial funds to launch the project spreading over 80 kanals. Similarly, it has issued orders to get control of a building currently used by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) courts on Rawal Road. The building, which was once used as RMC's hostel for girls, will be included in the cardiology institute. The hostel has been shifted to another building specifically designed for the purpose.

Another landmark project would be the Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplantation, which would be built at a cost of Rs3 billion. Land for the institute has been acquired near the Committee Chowk, where a veterinary hospital and APWA middle school was functioning.

The veterinary hospital has been shifted to Sihala, while the students of APWA school have been accommodated by another government school in Arya Mohallah.

The building that will house this institute will have 10 floors with 250 beds as well as additional 60 beds for dialysis.

The government has allocated Rs1.7 billion for the import of equipment for the institute, which would be the second one of its kind in Pakistan. The only such institute, Sindh Institute of Urology and Kidney Translation, was set up in Karachi in the private sector.

A water supply scheme on the eastern side of Murree Road is nearing completion at a total cost of Rs225 million. Twelve wells have been sunk in Soan village, from where three million gallons of water per day would be available before the start of summer season. Presently, the eastern side of Murree Road is getting eight million gallons of water per day, which had become insufficient for the growing population.

Two water storages - an underground one having the capacity of five million gallons of water and the overhead tank with the capacity of one million gallons - have been completed by the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa).

The Government Degree College for Women in Dhoke Kala Khan will have a new block. It will be completed by June at a cost of Rs20 million. A new block completed recently is already housing the computer centre and classrooms in the college, where presently 700 students were studying.

The Hashmat Ali Islamia College for Boys in Dhoke Kala Khan and Dhoke Kashmirian will have four additional blocks to enhance the capacity to 3,000 students. The building being constructed at a cost of Rs50.76 million will be ready to receive students from the next academic year.

The Government Degree College for Women on Murree Road will have a new block during next few months to increase the strength of students from 2,000 to 3,000. The Punjab government allocated a sum of Rs63.5 million for the college, where an auditorium will also be constructed before June 2010.

During the current fiscal year, the road between Committee Chowk and the PAF Complex in Chaklala via Dhoke Khabba and Millat Colony will be re-carpeted with construction of new drainage system.

Similarly, the Asghar Mall Road will be reconstructed between Murree Road and Pirwadhai bridge during the current fiscal year. The entire Asghar Mall Road was ruined by the Rawalpindi Development Authority to lay new water pipelines.

The Nawaz Sharif Park at Shamsabad will be renovated at a cost of Rs10 million. On the instructions of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, a master plan has been prepared by the RAD, Hanif Abbasi told the media persons.