KARACHI: The Advisory panel of the proposed Aga Khan Hospital and Medical College which met in Karachi has unanimously decided that a school of nursing and dentistry should be attached to the Rs five-crore project [Sept 8].

The panel also complimented President Ayub Khan for granting 68.5 acres of land on the Country Club Road in Karachi for the hospital as asked for by the Aga Khan.

Among others, the panel includes Lt-Gen S.A. Mian, Director of the Armed Forces Medical Services; Brig M.S. Haque, until now Director-General of Health; Surgeon Commodore A.N. Ansari, Director, Naval Medical Services; Dr Amir Mohammad Khan, Provincial Health Secretary; and Dr Habib Patel, President Aga Khan Medical College and Hospital Planning Committee.

They were of the view that a school of dentistry and nursing is of vital Importance owing to the shortage of nurses and qualified dentists.

The college, according to them, should have a vertical structure while the hospital should be horizontal — up to a maximum of three stories — with provisions for expansion.

They were also of the view that construction of the 600-bed hospital and college should start simultaneously. They said that a year before the completion of the project best available staff should be selected.

The 30-year-old Prince Karim Aga Khan intends to hold an international competition for designing the modern hospital and medical college.

The design, according to the Aga Khan, should be Islamic in architecture with adaptation for modern use.

Matters relating to exemption of taxes on local donations to the project are being discussed with the Ministry of Finance.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2017