ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has finally got possession of land for starting work on three projects in the federal capital.

For over a decade, the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) had been struggling to get possession of land in G-8 for its expansion.

NIRM is the only public sector rehabilitation centre for physically challenged people in the federal capital. In 2003, it was decided that an additional plot, measuring 4,167 square yard, would be allotted for its expansion. However, the possession of the plot could not be given to the institute even though its cost had been paid to the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

According to documents available with Dawn, the CDA board approved allotment of the 4,167 square yard located in the west of the institute.The possession of the land of Argentina Park has also been handed over to the ministry for the expansion of Polyclinic.

Moreover, a few days ago, the CDA handed over 237 kanals at Chattha Bakhtawar to the ministry for the construction of a nursing university.

An official of the ministry said the projects which could not be completed for years due to the unavailability of land.

Media coordinator for the ministry Sajid Shah told Dawn that non-possession of land remained a major hurdle in the launching of the three projects.

“Now the major hurdle in the way of the projects has been removed and soon the ministry would launch work on the projects.”

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2019