The federal government is weighing the introduction of new local taxes in Islamabad to help finance the operational costs of the ambitious Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre planned for Sector H-16.
The project, spearheaded by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) under the Ministry of Health, is being described as a flagship healthcare initiative for the region.
As per officials, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently chaired a high-level meeting where he directed the attorney general, law minister, and CDA chairman to finalise draft legislation that would permit the imposition of these taxes.
“Yes, the proposal is under active consideration,” confirmed an official source, noting that any tax would require proper legislation first. He hinted that potential levies could target junk food, cigarettes, smoking, and other unhealthy products or activities. The idea, he said, is to fund healthcare operations through revenue collected from items that harm public health.
A Mega Project in the Making
The Jinnah Medical Complex is being built at a cost of Rs 212 billion and will be executed in two phases. The first phase will see the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital, while the second will add a medical college and advanced research facilities. The CDA has already earmarked over 600 kanals of land for the complex.
Read more: Govt approves Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Project at a cost of Rs 212 billion
Recently, the CDA board ratified a bid from a Turkish-Pakistani joint venture consultant to oversee the project. The consultant will review designs and prepare final bidding documents under the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) model. Bidding for the boundary wall is set to open this week, signaling the start of physical development.
The foundation stone was laid on July 21, 2024, with the Prime Minister declaring the project a “gift of the coalition government” for Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and neighboring regions, including KP, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Once operational, the complex will provide 100% free treatment for deserving patients, with specialized centers for
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- kidney
- Lung ailments
For many citizens, the project symbolizes hope for world-class healthcare at their doorstep — funded, perhaps, by taxes on the very products that endanger public health.