ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives has revived the national police hospital project which was abandoned in 2019, a year after its approval.

In 2018, its estimated cost was Rs2 billion which has now increased to over Rs6 billion.

Officers of the capital police said the hospital was a brainchild of former inspector general of police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Sultan Azam Temuri, who requested the then interior minister Ahsan Iqbal to approve the project.

In April 2018, Ahsan Iqbal, during a police meeting (Darbar) announced that the government would allocate Rs2 billion in 2018-19 budget for the hospital.

In 2018-2019, an amount of Rs1 billion was allocated for the project, but Central Development Working Party (CDWP) or Dvisional Development Working Party (DDWP) did not approve it.

In 2018, its estimated cost was Rs2 billion, which has now been increased to over Rs6 billion

During the tenure of the previous government, the project was shelved after the then IGP asked the government that there was no need for the hospital and the amount reserved for it should be diverted to other projects, they said. As a result, the project was abandoned and not included in the new and ongoing schemes/projects announced in the budget of 2019-20.

After coming into power last year, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal, who is now Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, again got it approved.

According to an office memorandum issued by Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, the PC-I has been received and the CDWP in its meeting held on March 2 approved the project with the direction that sponsors shall consolidate and work out final firmed up cost of the project as per current CSP for issuance of authorisation accordingly, the memorandum said. An oversight committee with representation from project wing of the ministry and relevant stakeholders shall be constituted to keep check on quality and progress of the project.

The minister directed the authorities concerned to issue authorisation, “if sponsors submit final cost estimates”.

In compliance with the Islamabad IGP in a letter addressed to planning secretary certified that final firmed up cost of the project is Rs6479.879 million and submitted the modified PC-I accordingly which is examined by health section and endorsed the issuance of authorisation of the project in light of above directions of the minister.

As per the summary of the approved cost of the project, including Rs3,166,807 million for hospital buildings is followed by Rs1,812.678 million for equipment and furniture cost, Rs254.145 million for escalation, Rs216.345 million for consultancy cost, supervision charges and third party validation, Rs197.738 million for doctors’ accommodation, Rs170.027 million for entrance check post, cafeteria and CCTV room, Rs164 million for services/infrastructure works, Rs129.616 million for external electrification and street lights, Rs118.006 million for contingencies, Rs105.360 million for external development work and Rs46.210 million for departmental charges,

The sponsor agency may issue administrative approval of the project at a total cost of Rs6,479.879 million in accordance with CDWP decision, the memorandum said, adding the implementation period of the project is 36 months which may also be reflected in administrative approval.

The hospital will provide state of the art health facilities to over 10,000 personnel of the capital police. The 100-bed National Police Hospital will have treatment facilities including surgical and medical intensive care units, cardiac care intensive unit and departments of cardiology, neurology and medicine.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2023