The Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Transplantation (RIUT) became functional after 11 years. As Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the facility on Tuesday.
After the inauguration of the Metro Bus Project between Peshawar Morr and Islamabad International Airport on Monday. Orders have also been issued to make the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant (RIUT) functional by the end of this month or in the first week of May.
The cornerstone of the project was laid by Prime Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif as the Chief Minister of Punjab in 2012. Now, he will inaugurate the project as the country’s prime minister.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of Secretary Health, Vice Chancellor and management of the Hospital for timely completing the project and ensuring state of the art health facilities for the patients.
The Prime Minister said the groundbreaking ceremony of this hospital was laid by him. And sufficient funds were provided during his last tenure. As Chief Minister of Punjab I helped complete the various units of this hospital.
Highlighting the role of this hospital during COVID-19 pandemic. He said efforts will be made to provide modern facilities in this hospital.
Details of hospital
Work on the 400-bed hospital was started in 2012 at a cost of Rs2 billion. But the slow pace of work escalated the cost to Rs3.4 billion. Moreover, the number of beds was also reduced to 200. Initially, the project cost was Rs1.5 billion but due to the slow funding it escalated thrice reaching over Rs3 billion.
The previous PTI-led Punjab government released only Rs200 million for the project in 2019-20.
But after the change of government last year, the federal and provincial governments sped up efforts to complete the project.
Total l96 kanals was acquired by Punjab government in 2010-11 from Punjab Agriculture Department which later shifted its offices near Rawat.
Earlier, the Prime Minister was briefed that the facility contains a capacity of 255 beds. It was informed that the deadline for the project was set as June 2024 and the management plans to complete it within this year.
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