The governing board of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has given the green light for the formation of a medical college in close proximity to the Capital Hospital, a CDA-operated 500-bed healthcare facility.
The decision came to light during a recent board meeting presided over by Retired Captain Noor ul Amin Mengal. The idea of inaugurating a medical college under the auspices of the CDA was put forth by Dr. Fazal-e-Mola, the Executive Director of Capital Hospital.
Despite the approval, some members of the board expressed concerns regarding the financial implications of the initiative, foreseeing potential burdens for the civic body. After thoughtful discussions, the board concluded that the proposed medical college should function as a privately financed institution, following its unique financial structure.
To facilitate this, a committee led by the Vice Chancellor of Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, and CDA Board Member, Dr. Muhammad Ali, has been established. The group’s mission is to explore avenues for setting up a self-sustaining private medical college, hence mitigating the financial burden on the CDA. The committee is to consider operating under the guise of a private limited company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
Until a permanent establishment is constructed, the CDA board has allowed the temporary use of the Arts and Craft Village building located near the Pak-China Friendship Centre for the medical college. The CDA’s planning wing has been tasked with hiring a consultant to oversee the design and construction of the permanent facility.
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Executive Director Dr. Fazal-e-Mola confirmed the board’s conceptual approval and stated that further decisions will be guided by the committee. He reassured that the Capital Hospital meets all the preconditions set by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to establish a medical college. The proposed medical college will dedicate 5% of its seats to CDA employees, 20% to financially challenged students, and the remaining 75% will be filled based on merit.
The board also discussed proposals from the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Industrial Association of Islamabad to allot plots for the development of various facilities. However, due to existing legislation, the board couldn’t allocate plots directly to private entities. An alternative approach was discussed wherein the CDA would provide plots without formal allotment, thus enabling the chamber or association to initiate public welfare projects with their own resources. A final decision on this matter remains pending.
