Nowhere to go: NICVD calls for eviction of employees to construct new project

Employees protest, request admin not to take away their shelter in the name of institute's progress

KARACHI: The administration of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) has asked employees living in the premises of the hospital to vacate the residential colony by August 31 so that it can start the construction of a new project on the land. The residents, along with other employees of the hospital, held a protest on Monday, requesting the administration not to withdraw their shelter in the name of the institute's progress.

The residential colony, which is in a pretty dilapidated state, is inhabited by lower-tier staff, including technicians and sanitation staff. The residential colony was developed without any planning. The employees living in the colony have time and again altered their rooms in accordance with the sizes of their increasing families.

According to the employees, there are almost 70 families who have been living there for years. "There are some families who have lived here for at least 40 years," said a resident, Riaz Ameen, who has been a technician in the hospital for the last 35 years. "I am living here for the last 20 years and it would be very difficult for me to search for a [new] home."



Ameen said that most of the residents are not against the development and progress of the hospital. "But will the administration build projects making us homeless?" he asked. "These employees perform duties when there is an emergency or strike and employees living in other parts of the city can't come." He added that the hospital administration should understand the importance of this residential colony.

Mazhar, a technician, who has lived in the colony for the last eight years, said that his entire family was mentally disturbed after the administration issued letters to them. "We need alternative accommodation," he demanded.

Employees' union leader Zaryab Tiwana alleged that the administration hasn't informed the residents about the planning of the project. "They [administration] have just asked the employees to vacate their homes within a month," he said. "It is an unjustified act. We condemn it." The employees, who seem to be undecided, have been asked by the administration to resolve the issue through dialogue. "They'll deceive us again," said Tiwawa.

According to the residents, they can vacate the quarters if the administration assures them of alternative accommodation within the premises or even outside the hospital. "We need homes," another resident, Riaz, told The Express Tribune. "If the authorities construct a residential tower for us, we'll happily vacate these old houses."

According to a letter issued by executive administrator Dr Malik Hameedullah Khan, NICVD has recently launched a rehabilitation and reconstruction programme. The six separate blocks, including an out-patient department and a paediatric cardiology institute, and an entirely new structure will be built opposite the existing one. The letter added that this was only possible if the hospital makes optimal use of its land and demolishes all the existing structures.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2015.