Polyclinic Expansion : CDA approves allotment of parkland

ISLAMABAD: Succumbing to government’s pressure, the civic agency on Friday approved the allotment of 2.54 acres of Argentina Park land for the expansion of Polyclinic. The move comes despite Islamabad Land Disposal Regulation (ILDR) strictly forbidding the use of land allocated for public parks for any other purpose. The Supreme Court had previously also ruled that parks land could not be rezoned under any circumstances. On Wednesday, Capital Administration and Development Division Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry had asked the CDA to issue land allotment letter by Friday. Polyclinic is presently spread over 3.3 acres with 545 beds, while its annual emergency influx is between 2.5 million and three million patients. Additional blocks will be constructed on 2.54 acres of parkland to expand capacity.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2016.