Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Thursday performed the ground breaking ceremony for the establishment of a 252-bed isolation hospital in the city, a news source reported.
As per the publication, the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) will undertake the construction of the hospital over a 40-kanal land area near the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Reportedly, the FWO will utilise a ‘pre-fabricated light gauge steel structure’ and complete the project by May 10 this year. The decision has been made to expedite the federal government’s efforts to combat the novel coronavirus spread in Islamabad.
Other senior officials including Special Assistant to PM to Health Dr Zafar Mirza, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Muhammad Afzal, FWO Director-General (DG) Major General Kamal Azfar, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ahmed Ali were also present during the ceremony.
The Chinese government has
pledged USD 4 million for the construction of the isolation hospital. The
hospital includes seven patients’ blocks (3 for women and 4 for men), a
diagnostics block, a laboratory, and an accommodation centre for paramedics and
doctors.
