CM orders to release Rs1 bn for operationalisation of hospital in Karachi

KARACHI: Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh, has directed the health department to operationalise the closed Children Hospital North Karachi within 15 days, and he was ready to pay its liabilities.

“People of North Karachi cannot be denied the services of their health facility for the issues between the private partner and the government; therefore, the hospital must be started immediately for the larger interest of the area.” 

This he said while presiding over a 37th meeting of the PPP Policy Board at CM House. The meeting was attended by Azra Fazal Pechuho, Nasir Shah, Murtaza Wahab, Qasim Naveed, Ghulam Qadir Chandio, Sohail Rajput, Chief Secretary of Sindh,  Hassan Naqvi, Chairman, P&D, Baqaullah Unar, Aif Brohi, Najam Shah and others.   

Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho told the chief minister that the Health Department had executed a management contract with the Poverty Eradication Initiative (PEI) in Sep 2016 for ten years. But, the private partner closed the hospital in December 2021, and PEI filed a suit before Sindh High Court on September 22, 2020, since the hospital was unfunctional. 

Sohail Rajput, Chief Secretary of Sindh, told Murad Ali Shah that he had held a meeting on the issues of the hospital in which Rs616 million liabilities were worked out. He added that Rs425 million were required to operationalise the hospital. 

Murad Ali Shah said he was ready to release the funds immediately. The hospital must be made functional within the next 15 days. “it must be one of the best hospitals in the city,” he said categorically. 

Murad Ali Shah directed the health department to ensure the audit of the hospital right from its start in 2016. The policy board approved the proposal. 

5 MGD Desalination plant: The PPP policy board was told that to meet water requirements, the government has decided to install two Seawater Desalination plants, each one of 5 MGD, one at Ibrahim Hyderi and the other at Native Jetty or somewhere near Kemari. 

Nasir Shah said that his department had hired a consultant for feasibility study and transaction advisory service. He added that the desalination technology had been selected for the plant. 

The meeting was told that each plant might cost over Rs 1 billion. Murad Ali Shah directed Nasir Shah to visit the Keamari area, select the site for the plant, and also visit the KANUPP plant and report. 

Moreover, Murad Ali Shah directed the local Govt and Investment departments to launch pre-qualification documents for the 5 MGD Desalination Project under PPP Mode. He added that the project might be taken up on provincial government expenses.