The federal government has decided to avail the services of the Punjab Infrastructure Authority (PIA) for the construction of four new hospitals in Islamabad, a spokesperson said on Monday.
The prime minister, Punjab chief minister and federal and provincial cabinets have given final approval in this regard. The reason for approaching the authority is its expertise in constructing healthcare facilities.
The healthcare facilities to be constructed include PolyClinic Two Hospital in Sector G-11/3, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Hospital in Tarlai, a 200-bed building with emergency services at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and another 200-bed healthcare facility in the federal capital.
Sources told The Express Tribune that according to the rules, the responsibility of new buildings in Islamabad is with the Public Works Department (PWD). However, the federal government has decided to assign the task to PIA.
They added that the PWD expressed reservations on the move following which approvals from the prime minister, Punjab chief minister, and federal and provincial cabinets were sought which were readily given.
Read Govt sets aside Rs85m for two new hospitals
Sources maintained that this would be the first instance when a building in the federal capital would be constructed by a provincial authority or institution, adding that the authority has completed assigned projects within the deadline.
Following approval from the relevant authorities, the planning commission has sought feasibility reports of all four hospitals. Sources informed that the health ministry has also sought details from different healthcare facilities for this purpose.
This includes details such as the estimated cost of the hospital, the daily influx of patients at PIMS, Islamabad’s population according to the 2017 census, details of types of cases brought to PIMS during the past five years, parking facilities, traffic survey and countermeasures, power supply, non-objection certificate from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for construction of the hospital, oxygen availability, current state of the medical waste disposal system, sewerage system, water quality, and rainwater harvesting.
The Express Tribune attempted to contact Federal Health Secretary Amir Ashraf Khawaja but he did not respond to multiple requests made in this respect.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2021.
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