ISLAMABAD: The longstanding issue of extension of Polyclinic is going to be resolved as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday handed over a five acre plot to the hospital administration.

The plot is located in G-11/3, where Polyclinic will establish another hospital. A CDA official on Thursday handed over possession of the plot to the hospital management.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CDA Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan said that providing land to Polyclinic for its extension was a positive development as both the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic were crowded and the new hospital will reduce the burden on the two hospitals.

The SAPM, who is also an MNA from Islamabad, said the new hospital will be an over 200-bed facility. He said the government was also working to set up new basic health centres in rural area of Islamabad.

“Soon, residents of Islamabad will see the start of construction on the hospital as we have no issue of funding for this project,” he said and added that University of Engineering (UET) Taxila had been engaged for topographic survey of the project.The extension of Polyclinic had been delayed for a decade. CDA had allowed construction of new buildings for the hospital in a portion of Argentina Park but the project became controversial after environmentalists termed the CDA decision of allowing construction in the park illogical, unwise and illegal.

Residents of G-6 and environmentalists filed a case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to save the park’s land. In July 2019, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah scrapped the proposed extension of the hospital into the park.

Focal person for the project, Dr Jabbar Bhutto said the management of Polyclinic is very happy about getting possession of the plot. He said Polyclinic II will be set up in G-11.

“This will be a full-fledged hospital. The 500-bed hospital set up in 1965 has been facing shortage of space as 10,000 to 12,000 patients are treated in the hospital daily.”

The hospital is also running 30 dispensaries located in various areas, he said and added that CDA had already been paid for the plot.

When asked when the construction will begin, he said, “very soon”.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2021