Polyclinic Executive Director Dr Zahid Hussain said on Thursday that despite the Argentinean government’s support for the project — one-third of the cost will be financed by the South American country — the CDA showing its reluctance in giving possession of the land to start work on the project.
He said that the CDA initially opposed the health ministry’s plan to use one third of the park for the expansion project in 2009, arguing that the park was a gift to Pakistan from the Argentinean government and could not be used for expansion project, while also declaring it environmentally-unsound.
Later, the project was approved by a senate body, with the expansion ‘Argentina Block’ comprising a five-storey structure with more than 1,000 beds, essential specialties and equipment.
“The hospital will also have a helipad-supported 24/7 emergency service, a disabled and elderly-friendly design with flexibility for future vertical expansion,” Dr Zahid said.
“The Argentinean government threw its weight behind the public health project, linking the handing over of the land to the city’s second largest hospital,” he said.
Repeated reminders to the CDA by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and the Capital Administration and Development Ministry for handing over the park’s land have yet to bear fruit.
The CDA is citing court verdicts which, according to the civic agency, prohibit the use of parks for other purposes.
A top CAD official said that the Law Ministry has not yet responded to a letter seeking advice on the project. He said that the civic body has already provided multiple Supreme Court judgments to the Senate panel which prohibit the CDA from using park land for any other purpose.
Dr Zahid said the law ministry has clarified that the apex court judgment only barred the use of public park land for commercial purposes.
The CDA official said, however, that under the CDA Ordinance, a public park cannot be used for any other purpose.
The project, if carried out, will also have neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, plastic surgery and MRI facilities.
“The government of Argentina had gifted the park land to the Polyclinic for the expansion project besides extending technical training to the medical staff, Dr Zahid said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2014.
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I think CDA is right instead of giving park for hospital extension there should be plan to make a new hospital in some other sector as there are already too many hospitals in the region.