AGL 40.00 No Change ▼ 0.00 (0%)
AIRLINK 129.00 Decreased By ▼ -0.53 (-0.41%)
BOP 6.76 Increased By ▲ 0.08 (1.2%)
CNERGY 4.50 Decreased By ▼ -0.13 (-2.81%)
DCL 8.70 Decreased By ▼ -0.24 (-2.68%)
DFML 41.00 Decreased By ▼ -0.69 (-1.66%)
DGKC 81.30 Decreased By ▼ -2.47 (-2.95%)
FCCL 32.68 Decreased By ▼ -0.09 (-0.27%)
FFBL 74.25 Decreased By ▼ -1.22 (-1.62%)
FFL 11.75 Increased By ▲ 0.28 (2.44%)
HUBC 110.03 Decreased By ▼ -0.52 (-0.47%)
HUMNL 13.80 Decreased By ▼ -0.76 (-5.22%)
KEL 5.29 Decreased By ▼ -0.10 (-1.86%)
KOSM 7.63 Decreased By ▼ -0.77 (-9.17%)
MLCF 38.35 Decreased By ▼ -1.44 (-3.62%)
NBP 63.70 Increased By ▲ 3.41 (5.66%)
OGDC 194.88 Decreased By ▼ -4.78 (-2.39%)
PAEL 25.75 Decreased By ▼ -0.90 (-3.38%)
PIBTL 7.37 Decreased By ▼ -0.29 (-3.79%)
PPL 155.74 Decreased By ▼ -2.18 (-1.38%)
PRL 25.70 Decreased By ▼ -1.03 (-3.85%)
PTC 17.56 Decreased By ▼ -0.90 (-4.88%)
SEARL 78.71 Decreased By ▼ -3.73 (-4.52%)
TELE 7.88 Decreased By ▼ -0.43 (-5.17%)
TOMCL 33.61 Decreased By ▼ -0.90 (-2.61%)
TPLP 8.41 Decreased By ▼ -0.65 (-7.17%)
TREET 16.26 Decreased By ▼ -1.21 (-6.93%)
TRG 58.60 Decreased By ▼ -2.72 (-4.44%)
UNITY 27.51 Increased By ▲ 0.08 (0.29%)
WTL 1.41 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (2.17%)
BR100 10,450 Increased By 43.4 (0.42%)
BR30 31,209 Decreased By -504.2 (-1.59%)
KSE100 97,798 Increased By 469.8 (0.48%)
KSE30 30,481 Increased By 288.3 (0.95%)

The Planning Commission has raised questions over the envisaged shortfall in revenue generation against annul recurring expenditure (ARE) as well as procurement of machinery/equipment on higher rate for 500-Bed Teaching Hospital and Medical & Dental College at University of Karachi.
Prime Minister's Package for Karachi, announced in Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) tenure envisaged construction of a state of the art 500-bed teaching hospital on a 24 acres plot in Karachi University to serve more than 20 million population of Karachi city with tertiary medical care facilities and adjoining areas including interior of Sindh, and develop state of the art facilities for the researchers and produce strong culture of research and development (R&D).
The project was considered by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in March, 2018 and recommended the project at a rationalized cost to be finalized by a committee headed by Member (Social Sector) including Chief (PP & H) and Chief Health.
According to official documents regarding the discussion on the project, Chief Health of Planning Commission in the economic appraisal of the project pointed out that, a project greater than 50 million rupees worth of cost should necessarily be accompanied with a feasibility report for technical as well as civil works.
He observed that the PC-1 under consideration was more than eight billion in cost therefore it was mandatory to conduct feasibility of the project in the form of PC-II and subsequently PC-1 should be prepared based upon the results/findings of the feasibility report which should be annexed with the PC-1.
Representative of Physical Planning and Housing Section of planning commission observed that various activities of the project (technical as well as civil works) could not be ascertained in the absence of a proper feasibility study.
Chief Health also raised the questions as why the medical college and teaching hospital was being established under Karachi University when exclusive medical university like Dow University of Health Sciences existed in Karachi. Representative of Physical Planning & Housing Section asked about the approved charter for the educational facility of the medical college.
The sponsors of the project replied that establishment of the proposed medical college and teaching hospital was part of the charter and master planning of University of Karachi. Chief Health pointed out that the revenue to be generated makes only 60% of the total Annual Recurring Expenditure (ARE) of Rs. 330 million, and the sponsors thus needed to mention about the source (PSDP, ADP or any other) of the rest of 40 percent ARE in the PC-1 in order to ensure sustainability of the project.
Representative of Economic Appraisal Section commented that ARE should be segregated for hospital and college accordingly.
Chief Health observed that cost of various machinery/equipment envisaged to be procured under the project was on higher side. He referred to many items of machinery and equipment in this regard. Representative of Economic Appraisal said that basis of cost estimates should be provided in the PC-1.
Chief Health suggested that specifications of different machinery and equipment to be procured should be provided in order to ascertain suitability and price competitiveness. He also asked about Foreign Exchange Component (FEC) requirement for import of machinery and equipment under the project.
Chief Health observed that the medical college and teaching hospital would be established within the premises of University of Karachi which may affect the academic environment, therefore, sanctity of the university should be kept in mind while devising the project.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019

Comments

Comments are closed.