RAWALPINDI: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique on Saturday directed the relevant authorities to complete the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) revamping project worth Rs3.024 billion by March 31 and make 23 operation theatres functional before Eidul Fitr.

He passed these directives during his visit to the HolyFamily Hospital and Rawalpindi Institute of Urology where he reviewed the ongoing work.

Accompanied by PML-N MNA Hanif Abbasi, the provincial minister directed the contractors to make all operation theatres in HFH fully functional before Eid.

He visited wards at Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and inquired about medical facilities from patients.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the groundand first floors of the Holy Family Hospital should be completed by March 31 while the basement and second floor should be completed in the second phase.

`We will not tolerate any lapse in the revamping project being carried out in the Institute of Urology,` he said, adding that health card will be activated in the province and a good package will be offered to the citizens.

In October, the divisionaladministration had closed Holy Family Hospital (HFH) forthreemonths to carry out reconstruction work worth Rs1.5 billion. It had been stated that the hospital would be opened to patients by January 31.

Due to the ongoing work, all departments of the hospital were shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital due to which patients were suffering for the last five months.The Holy Family Hospital has a total area of 672,000 square feet while the number of beds in the wards is 1,030. An average of 2,161 patients visited the OPD on a daily basis, 915 visited the emergency department while 228 were admitted to wards.

In phase one, renovation of the old block had been completed while in phase two, renovation of the new OPD and indoor block would be carried out.

A senior official of the communication and works department said approximately Rs700 million more would be required for the construction work in Holy Family Hospital.

He said briefing was given to MNA Hanif Abbasi who assured the officials that he would play his role to ensure completion of the project. He said a formal summary would be sent to the Punjab government soon.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique also visited the Sasta Ramazan Bazaar.Speaking on the occasion, he said: `The government cannot embark on a journey of prosperity without the support of the people.

He said Almighty Allah had given us the opportunity to do good deeds in the holy month of Ramazan, adding that the provincial government was taking strict action against profiteers.

He also said the Punjab government had introduced a historic Nighaban Ramazan package under which various items were delivered to deserving people.

The minister said the district administrations across the province had alsobeen ordered toinspect the markets to ensure implementation of official prices of edibles.