WAZIRABAD - The Punjab health secretary has issued an order to convert the 200-bed Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology into a 50-bed general hospital when the construction of the WICs building has completed at a cost of Rs420 million. Sources said that the funds of the WIC were being spent on the construction of Medical College in Gujranwala. The Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology was approved by former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi. The estimated cost of the project was Rs1,900 million. In the second phase, residents for doctors and a Nursing Hostel were to be constructed which have been stopped due lack of funds. Primarily, one doctor and three nurses were given special training at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore but now the trained staff has been spared. According to the new instructions issued by the Punjab government, wards for outdoor patients, an emergency and other will be set up at the ground floor and the Operation Theatre and ICU will be at the first floor while the second floor will be reserved for the residences of doctors, and the Nursing Hostel will be managed at third floor. The Health Department has made payment of Rs 12 million to Gepco for early installation of a power station in the premises of the hospital. Special advise has also been issued to connect sever system of the hospital to under construction sewerage scheme, being constructed at a cost of Rs 170 million, connecting a vast area to Nullah Palkhoo. Former Gujranwala district nazim Muhammad Fayyaz said that the Punjab government should withdraw its decision to reduce the plan to a 50-bed hospital. Socio-political circles of Wazirabad expressed their concern over the decision, saying that the hospital would not cater to the needs of 10 million population of the Gujranwala Division.