KARACHI, Aug 4: The City Council on Saturday endorsed the city government’s decision to allot a 989-square-yard plot to the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation for establishing a hospital.

The city government has already made it clear that it will retain the ownership of the plot, carved out from a piece of land measuring 17,372 square yards on Chand Bibi Road, maintaining that the decision to accommodate an SIUT hospital in the vicinity had been taken in the greater interest of the public.

It has further stated that the possession and use of the allotted plot will be limited to the sole purpose of constructing and operating the hospital.

A resolution endorsing the CDGK’s decision was moved jointly by the treasury and opposition benches who acknowledged the internationally recognised services to the nation, especially the ailing humanity and the medical profession, being rendered by SIUT chief Dr Adibul Hassan Rizvi.

Convenor of the house Nasreen Jalil put the resolution to members for a debate, which was initiated by Asif Siddiqi, leader of the Haq Parast Group. He hailed the city government’s decision, and noted that it would help the SIUT to extend the network of its services.

He assured the house that there would be not injustice with the occupants of some residential quarters who would have to be evicted from the project site.

Another treasury member, Masood Mehmood, maintained that the debate on the resolution should not prolong as the allotment of land to the SIUT was not a political issue but a public welfare move.

Opposition leaders Rafique Ahmed of the Al-Khidmat Group agreed to his suggestion following which the house unanimously adopted the resolution.