Kathmandu, July 1 -- The government's request to the SAARC Development Fund for $1.5 million to set up hi-tech laboratories in all seven provinces across the country has not been responded even after three months.

The Ministry of Health and Population had submitted its proposal to the fund following the Covid-19 pandemic some three months ago.

"We have not received the requested money from the fund," Dr Roshan Pokhrel, chief specialist at the Health Ministry, told the Post. "We had sought the money to buy protective gear, reagents and to set up laboratories."

The fund was established in 2010 to promote the welfare of the people in the SAARC countries, quality of their life, economic growth and social progress, among others.

According ...