The federal government is considering the introduction of new local taxes in the capital to finance the operational costs of the upcoming Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre, a landmark healthcare project being developed in Sector H-16.
Planned by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, the mega facility is expected to be one of the largest medical centers in the region.
According to official sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently chaired a high-level meeting, directing the attorney general, law minister, and CDA chairman to prepare draft legislation enabling the imposition of fresh levies to sustain the project’s recurring expenses.
Insiders suggest that the proposed taxes could target junk food, cigarettes, and other unhealthy products, not only to generate revenue but also to discourage harmful consumption patterns.
With an estimated cost of Rs. 212 billion, the complex will be executed in two phases. The first phase, worth Rs. 75 billion, focuses on building a state-of-the-art hospital, while the second phase will add a medical college and research facilities. The CDA has allocated over 600 kanals of land for the project.
The CDA board has also cleared the bid of a consultancy — a joint venture between a Turkish firm and a Pakistani company — which will oversee design reviews and finalize bidding documents under the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) model. Meanwhile, bidding for the construction of the complex’s boundary wall is scheduled to open this week.
