ISLAMABAD: After a delay of over seven years, the cardiac centre of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) is finally being inaugurated by Minister of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Barrister Usman Ibrahim on Thursday.

A doctor on the condition of anonymity said in early 2000 a proposal to construct a state of the art cardiac centre was floated and the project worth Rs1.246 billion was initiated, which was to be completed in 2007, he said.He said at present the hospital had a cardiology department, which was established in 1986. The monthly turnover at its outpatient department averages around 3,000. Its Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) consists of 14 beds while cardiology ward has 31 beds.

`In 2014, the Public Worl(s Department (PWD) constructed the building and handed it over to Pims.

However, National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) identified certain flaws in the construction and the building was handed back to the PWD for their removal,` he said.

The flaws led to accumulation of rainwater in the basement, he added.`Besides, the doors were too narrow to accommodate stretchers, he said.

He expressed his astonishment over the inauguration of incomplete building by the then Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in 2013.The National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat also took notice of the delay in the construction work.

Last week the Pims Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram, however, assured the NA committee that cardiac center would be inaugurated within fortnight.

Cardiologist at Pims Professor Doctor Akhter Ali Bandaysha said the newly constructed cardiac center had 120 beds for the patients, two operation theatres, three angiography labs, CCU, ICU, private wards and OPD.

`It will cater to a large number of people from all over Pakistan,` he added.

The Pims media coordinator, Dr Waseem Khawaja, said cardiac surgery ICU had 10 beds, CCU 14 beds and cardiology ward had 34 beds.

There are 22 beds in cardiac surgery ward.

Moreover, there is one presidential suit, four deluxe rooms, 10 private rooms for cardiac patients, 10 beds are in cardiac emergency. Moreover 10 beds are for pre and post-care of patients, he said.