Structure stands behind half-built boundary wall, giving a ghostly look, with construction material lying on the site
MANDI BAHAUDDIN: The DHQ Hospital in Mandi Bahauddin, a 258-bed project, has been under construction for a decade. Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf sanctioned its construction and the federal and Punjab governments agreed to bear its expenditure on a 50-50 per cent basis. The project was approved in 2007 and construction began in 2010. The estimated period of construction was two years. The federal government released its share of the funds and construction continued. Reportedly, the Punjab government did not release its half of the funds so the work stopped. Under the Annual Development Programme 2014-15 and the Accelerated Programme for Health Care, the Punjab government allocated Rs925.68 million for the establishment of the hospital but no work has been initiated on the ground. The PML-N government has not paid any attention to this incomplete project. Now, the structure stands behind a half-built boundary wall, giving it a ghostly look, with construction material lying on the site. Farmers from the vicinity cultivate the hospital’s land and cattle use it as a grazing ground.
The medical superintendent of the DHQ Hospital has requested the Punjab health secretary to release the due funds for the hospital’s completion. Many people are financially hard-pressed and can’t afford treatment at private hospitals. Therefore, the chief minister of Punjab is urged to release funds for the long overdue completion of health schemes in the district.
Sher Gondal
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2015.
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