Construction of Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre in Islamabad to be completed in record time to combat COVID-19
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan has speeded up construction of the 250-bed hospital to treating the COVID-19 patients and study infectious diseases.
The Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre (IHITC) being established in Islamabad’s Chak Shahzad area is being built in record time by Frontier Works Organisation (FWO). The hospital is expected to be operationalized by early May 2020. The construction team is using pre-fabricated, light gauge steel structures.
The hospital is being built in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Institute of Health.
“Construction work on the project is in full swing. The construction teams of FWO are working round the clock, ensuring proper anti-corona precautions for the complete workforce, in a bid to hand over this hospital for its operationalization by May 5, 2020,” according to an official statement.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the center was performed by Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 26. The premier was briefed by Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal.
PM Imran Khan appreciated the $4 million assistance by Chinese government to construct the health facility.
The facility spread over 70,000 square feet consists of seven blocks. It will also house a laboratory and a diagnostics block apart from an accommodation block for doctors and paramedics. It will be a fully air-tight facility with all doors to be operated through sensors to reduce human contact.
More than 8,000 cases of coronavirus and 168 deaths have been reported in Pakistan as of April 19. For latest statistics check the official website.