ISLAMABAD: The construction of a building for the Quaid-i-Azam Postgraduate Medical College at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) could not be completed even after 25 years.

As a result, the cost of the project has escalated from the initial Rs1 billion to over Rs10 billion.

After a report by Nespak that the foundation of the building was not safe, the current management of Pims is now considering demolishing the structure and reconstructing the building.

The under-construction building is located on the premises of Pims near the nursing school.

An official of Pims requesting not to be identified told Dawn that in 1986 it was decided to build a building for the QPGMC. A plot measuring 50 kanals was allocated for the project.

`The contract of the project worth Rs1 billion was awarded to a company which started the construction on time. However, after almost one year the release of funds to the company was delayed, he said.

Initially, the company tried to get the payments but afterwards it demanded an escalationinthe costbecause of the delay in the release of funds and the hil(e in the prices of contraction material. However, the ministry of health refused to approve the cost escalation, he said.

It may be noted that if the government fails to release funds to any construction company on time, they demand extra amount to complete the project by cit-ingtheincreaseinthecostof construction materials.

`In late `80s, the construction company went to court to get the cost escalation. In 2003, the stay, which the contractor had obtained, was vacated after the Pims management informed the court that under the contract the company had to go for arbitration before entering litigation. So the court also awarded Rs250 million in favour of Pims,` he said.

Soon after the vacation of the stay, the Pims management cancelled the contract and awarded it to the Public Worl(s Department (PWD).

But the company again approached the court due to which the construction of the buildings was delayed.

According to the project, two teaching blocks, one administration block, two hostels for male and female students, a colony for the staff of the college and residences for professors had to be constructed. At the moment, 10 houses and the teaching block have been constructed but the main blocl< is yet to be completed, he said.

The project, which was scheduled to be ready at a cost of Rs1 billion, now needs tens of billions of rupees, the official added.

When contacted, Pims Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram said after taking over the charge he decided to get the project completed. However, he learnt that in 2012 the NationalEngineeringServices of Pakistan (Nespak) had declared the structure unsafe.

`Now we are considering demolishing the structure and awarding a new contract for the reconstruction of the building on 50 kanals,` he said.

A briefing has been given to Secretary Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Hamid Ali Khan on the project. After getting permission to demolish the structure, a new contract will be awarded, said Dr Akram.