The construction material which had been transferred to the project site before the CJP’s visit has been lying at the site seemingly untouched.
PHOTO: FILE
RAWALPINDI: Over six months after a whirlwind visit by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, during which he directed to immediately start work on the project, construction on the mother and child hospital in Rawalpindi has yet to move an inch.
July 1, 2018, was a Sunday and the under-construction structure of the Mother and Child Hospital in was lifeless. Just then, a motorcade of Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar pulled up for a snap inspection.
Lamenting that the 10-year-old project was nowhere near completion, he directed that work on the project should be completed within a period of 18 months. Admonishing the Public Work Department’s (PWD) chief engineer for the poor quality of work, he had assured that funds necessary for the project will be released.
CJP Nisar had further promised to speak to the then caretaker prime minister over the matter to appoint focal persons for the project and to kick-start the staff induction and equipment purchase processes.
Pointing out that the iron rebars for the project had rusted, the CJP had urged the contractor to cooperate in completing the project. Moreover, he had offered the SC’s help to amend the rules as and where necessary and possible.
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After Ahmed pointed it out, the CJP directed to include the 16 canals of land lying adjacent to the project.
Foundation for the project — which includes a 480-bed hospital, a nursing college, a hostel and a colony for employees — had been laid by former prime minister Shaukat Aziz in 2007.
After a change of government in 2008, the project remained on halt for nearly 10 years.
Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had then moved the Supreme Court over the hospital’s status.
After hearing the arguments, CJP Nisar decided to visit the site of the hospital.
Despite directions to complete the hospital within 18 months, the Punjab government has yet to make meaningful progress in the project.
The construction material which had been transferred to the project site before the CJP’s visit has been lying at the site seemingly untouched.
The government inertia is even more surprising given that Ahmed is part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Despite multiple attempts, the federal minister and the main petitioner in the case could not be contacted.
However, PTI MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafique, a lawmaker from Rawalpindi, explained that the process of collecting tenders has started and that work on the project is expected to start soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2018.
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