RAWALPINDI: Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a Rs237 million project to expand parking and waiting areas of the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC).

Commissioner Amir Khattak, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema and local parliamentarians as well as hospital staff were also present at the ground breaking ceremony.

While briefing on the occasion, it was apprised that the approved cost of the parking extension and waiting area project is Rs237.494 million. The project was approved and contract signed on April 13.

The project includes a three-storey building, which has a 11,106 square feet ground floor, which would have parking, elevator and other facilities.

The ground floor is also 11,106 square feet, which includes waiting area, female waiting area, medical offices, receptions, places of prayer and other important facilities. The preliminary work of the project, which includes excavation, has already been started.

According to the plan, the building will be located along the central part of the hospital, which is easily accessible to patients and staff.

Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi said that the government would continue to take every possible step to improve the health sector. He said that the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology was established 13 years ago.

He said that this project is being completed under the leadership of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and it would be completed within the stipulated time frame.

He said that the PML-N led federal government was striving hard to serve people and the aim of this block is to provide the best health facilities to the people.

He said the prime minister had decided to give the benefit of international cut in petroleum product prices to Balochistan. “We have launched an anti-encroachment campaign in Rawalpindi, which was started as per vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz,” he said.

He said that many important development steps have also been taken in Sindh and Balochistan. However, he said, “when we look at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we do not see any work. What benefits have the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have received during this government in the last 17 years?”

The minister explained that Maryam Nawaz had played an important role in solving the problems of Rawalpindi, adding that kidney and liver transplants were going to start this year at the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, which was good news for the people.

“It is the duty of all of us to protect the country. Politicians, officers, and journalists all have to work together. Whoever does not believe in the federation of Pakistan is not a Pakistani,” he said.

The railway minister said that a major operation is underway across the country to retrieve railway land from the encroachment mafia.

The district administration officials said that the quality and transparency should be given top priority as well as ensuring the completion of the project within stipulated time. They said that the expansion of parking and waiting area will facilitate patients.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2025