Polyclinic builds wall around allotted land

Construction begins months after SC verdict in hospital’s favour

ISLAMABAD: After a struggle spanning 11-long-years, the Federal Government Hospital - Polyclinic, has finally received possession of the 2.54 acres of land in the adjoining Argentina Park in Sector G-6 of the federal capital.

The hospital administration has now started raising a boundary wall around the land to demarcate it and prevent it from being usurped.

The land was at the centre of extending the second largest public hospital of the city but had been caught up in litigation with local residents.

Around 6,000-8,000 patients visit the outpatient department (OPD) of Polyclinic on a daily basis for treatment while around 0.3 million – 0.35 million patients are treated at the hospital annually.

Considering the large number of patients who visit the hospital on a daily basis and the consistent increase in the population of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, a need was felt to expand the hospital. The government had subsequently approved a project to expand the hospital nine years ago in 2008.

The Argentinian government, as a sign of friendly relations, had decided to grant a section of the Argentina Park it built in the federal capital for the hospital’s expansion. The park is located adjacent to the hospital in Sector G-6.

However, some residents of the area had gone to court over the matter and obtained a stay order. They contended that building the hospital on the park would destroy the natural beauty of the area apart from robbing locals the source of healthy recreation facility and a key ingredient for a green and healthy environment in the city.

However, the hospital could make no progress on obtaining possession of the park land after stay orders from the court.

When the Islamabad High Court (IHC) withdrew the stay order a few years ago in public interest, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) transferred the 2.54 acres of park land to the hospital administration against payment of Rs44.85 million.

The hospital was using the land for parking while the matter ended up before the Supreme Court (SC).

However, just days before former chief justice Saqib Nisar retired, he permitted to build the hospital on the allotted land.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2019.