Progress on Jinnah Medical Complex project reviewed

Islamabad : Progress on the Islamabad Jinnah Medical Complex, whose groundbreaking was performed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last July, was reviewed during a meeting chaired by planning and development minister Prof Ahsan Iqbal here.

The master plan for the Rs120 billion project includes academic and research towers, a centre of excellence, diagnostic and treatment podium, academic podium, emergency department, student housing, physical plant, grid station, auditorium, mosque, and a hotel to cater to the needs of medical tourists and other patients, according to officials. The government has allocated Rs5 billion for it in the current fiscal year under the Public Sector Development Programme, while the CDA has earmarked 200 kanals of commercial land in Sector H-16 for it.

The minister ordered the completion of the project within the three-year timeframe and called for a stringent process to hire qualified staff and credible contractors to ensure the project’s successful execution. He also ordered the project's execution under the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode instead of through regular budgeting to ensure efficiency and transparency.

Prof Iqbal said vice chancellors of two leading Pakistani medical universities should be engaged to provide expert opinion on the project. The minister said the mega healthcare project’s strategic location near Islamabad's airport and national highways made it an ideal hub for regional and international medical tourism.

He said a steering committee had been established to oversee the project’s progress and ensure that all timelines and milestones set by the prime minister are met. Prof Iqbal said the Jinnah Medical Complex must incorporate green design principles, ensuring that it stands as a sustainable and environmentally friendly structure.

"The proposed health complex is envisioned as a monumental project for the capital city, featuring a self-contained vertical health tower with comprehensive medical services. The master plan will optimise land use, building layout, landscaping, site accessibility, and traffic management, all aimed at promoting health tourism and enhancing healthcare infrastructure in Pakistan," he said. According to him, regular consultative sessions will be held to track progress and ensure the smooth execution of activities, thereby guaranteeing the successful implementation of the project.