LAHORE: Extended construction activity along a 900-meter segment of the Nishtar Road between the Burn Unit and Nishtar Flyover has severely restricted access to Nishtar Hospital, creating significant challenges for patients, visitors, and medical personnel, as ambulances frequently encounter traffic gridlock, while dust and noise exacerbate their distress.
Despite three months of sewerage line installation by the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), neither the civic administration, National Highway Authority (NHA), nor district authorities have managed to ensure timely completion or implement an effective traffic management strategy, leaving this critical healthcare hub in south Punjab exposed to ongoing disruptions.
Nishtar Hospital serves 4,000-5,000 outpatients and approximately 3,000 emergency cases daily. Official records indicate the facility treated 885,124 outpatients and 748,699 emergency patients in 2025, along with 833,737 admissions and 41,187 surgeries, underscoring the urgent need for unimpeded access.
Wasa managing director states the road is expected to be finalized within a month
Nishtar Hospital Medical Superintendent Rao Amjad Ali Khan informed Dawn that patients, visitors, and staff were enduring severe hardships due to the ongoing construction. “Ambulances frequently remain immobilized in traffic for extended periods, delaying critical emergency responses,” he stated.
He highlighted that the relentless traffic noise and dust from excavation work were exacerbating conditions for patients, medical staff, and visitors. “Individuals in wards and those utilizing OPD services are experiencing distress from dust and noise pollution. We call upon Wasa and the district administration to intervene immediately to resolve this crisis,” he emphasized.
An anonymous senior hospital physician noted that the OPD and emergency entrance directly face the under-construction road segment. He alleged that substandard initial sewerage pipeline installation necessitated repeated excavation, further delaying completion and worsening accessibility for patients and healthcare workers.
“This project has persisted for three months without urgency from authorities, despite daily visits by thousands of patients,” he remarked.
Students in nearby hostels, pharmacy owners, and residents of adjacent colonies reported that traffic congestion has become a persistent issue. Vehicles frequently become stranded for hours, while dust and noise have created unbearable living and working conditions.
An unnamed senior NHA official explained that road carpeting would follow sewerage work completion. He noted the tendering process was finalized, but funding delays were postponing execution. However, Wasa Managing Director Faisal Shoukat claimed sewerage pipeline installation was finalized a week prior, describing the task as technically complex due to the need to replace outdated lines laid without proper planning.
He stated that the NHA was currently laying sand and crushed-stone bases before carpeting, anticipating completion within a month. When questioned about project funding, Shoukat stated he was unaware of fund disbursements.
Commuters and hospital officials criticized the lack of a traffic diversion strategy or accelerated project timelines despite the road’s critical role in serving a major tertiary-care facility.
