Court seeks response on delayed health project

Despite billions spent, Mother and Child Hospital remains unfinished

RAWALPINDI:

The High Court's Rawalpindi Bench Judge, Justice Jawad Hassan has issued notices to the federal and provincial governments, the commissioner, the deputy commissioner, and the health department over a petition highlighting delays in the completion of the Rawalpindi Mother and Child Hospital despite billions already spent.

The court has directed the respondents to provide a clause-wise reply to all legal points raised in the petition. Once completed, the hospital is expected to house 400 beds and 17 state-of-the-art operation theaters.

Petitioner Malik Saleh Muhammad Advocate argued that the hospital was 98% complete, with its OPD initially scheduled for inauguration on April 30, 2022, and full operations slated to begin by June 30, 2022.

However, following a change in government in April 2022, the project has reportedly been neglected.

The advocate pointed out that thefts of doors, windows, furniture, and shelves have turned the nearly finished hospital into a "haunted" structure.

He urged the court to issue orders for the immediate completion of the hospital, emphasising its critical importance for the welfare of Rawalpindi's residents.

He warned that continued exposure to rain and sunlight is further damaging the building, risking the investment already made.

Legal experts suggest that the court's involvement could expedite the process, ensuring that the hospital's completion becomes a priority.