Finishing Polyclinic expansion early to ease hospitals’ load in capital: minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal has directed the authorities concerned to expedite the under-construction Polyclinic Hospital expansion in G-11/3 Islamabad, emphasising that the Rs16 billion public health facility must be completed ahead of schedule to address the worsening burden on the capital’s overstretched hospitals.

“This is a critical public health initiative. We cannot afford delays,” Minister Kamal asserted during a site visit on Wednesday. “Double the workforce, work day and night, and complete this hospital before the deadline,” he instructed officials and contractors on-site.

Accompanied by Federal Secretary for Health Syed Waqarul Hassan, Director General Health, Executive Director Polyclinic Hospital, and the Joint Secretary Health, the minister received a detailed briefing from the Project Director of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Authority (PIDA), which is overseeing the development.

The Polyclinic expansion—expected to add 400 beds to the existing facility—is being constructed at a cost of approximately Rs16 billion. Once completed, it will play a pivotal role in relieving patient load from Islamabad’s limited and increasingly overwhelmed public hospitals.

“Islamabad is a growing metropolitan city where the population is expanding rapidly,” said Kamal. “Healthcare facilities are under immense pressure, and the construction of this hospital will bring much-needed relief not only to residents of Islamabad but also to people from nearby regions.”

Minister Kamal announced that he would personally visit the site again next week to monitor progress. “This is not just a construction project—it is a lifeline for thousands. Its timely delivery is non-negotiable,” he said.

Officials were also instructed to proactively resolve any bottlenecks or challenges the project may face and to maintain the momentum of work. Kamal warned that since this is a public health project, any form of delay would directly affect citizens’ access to vital medical services.

Calling it a top health priority for the federal government, the minister reiterated that completing the Polyclinic expansion ahead of schedule is essential to strengthening Islamabad’s healthcare infrastructure and meeting future demand.