ISLAMABAD: The project to establish Pakistan`s first ever nursing university seems to be in doldrums as not only the possession of land could not be obtained but also structures on the plot are yet to be removed.

This is despite the fact that the foundation of the university was laid by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on January 6 this year, In 2014, King Hammad of Bahrain announced that he would provide funds for the establishment of the university as a gift for the people of Pakistan.

It was decided that the government of Pakistan would arrange land and utility services while the construction of the universitywould be carried out through funds from Bahrain.

The King Hammad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences would be set up on 237 kanals at Park Road in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad.

The university will cater to 2,000 students with 500 annual admissions. Besides, residential facility will be provided to 1,000 students on the campus.

In Julylast year, a Bahrainidelegationvisited Islamabad to finalise the project.

On January 6 this year, the prime minister performed the groundbreaking of the university in the presence of a number of prominent personalities and dignities from Bahrain.

On June 8, Minister for National Health Services (NHS) Saira Afzal Tarar was informed during a press conference that 700 applications had been filed by people claiming that they were owners of the land or had built structures onit.

The minister was also informed that eventhe foundation stone laid by the premier had disappeared from the site.

Ms Tarar said it was unfortunate that most of the land in Islamabad was disputed and it becomes difficult for starting projects in the capital.

`I have contacted the chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and arrangements are being made to give alternative plots and compensation to the affected people so that the construction work on the university can ne started.

She said as the premier had laid the foundation of the university the project would be completed.

However, an official of the ministry requesting anonymity told Dawn that the foreign funding for the project was available but the land could not be vacated.

Unnecessary delays in projects have become a routine in the country due to which not only costs of the projects are increased but also services cannot be provided to the citizens, he said.