RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital (RTH) has sought Punjab government`s help in acquiring the land of former Rose Cinema at Fawara Chowk for the construction of an emergency medical tower.

On the other hand, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC), which now owns the land, wants to construct a commercial-cum-parking plaza on the plot.

However, Commissioner AmerKhattak, who is administrator of the RMC, has formed a committee to look into the matter.

The proposal of the hospital administration has also been sent to the Board of Revenue to ascertain whether the land could be handed over to the hospital or not.

Rose Cinema at Fawara Chowk was demolished by RMC in May last. There were many cases filed in Lahore High Court regarding the ownership of the property but the court disposed of all the cases and sent two petitions to the Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Rawalpindi to make a decision as per law. The additional DC revenue gave a decision in favour of the RMC and the latter demolished the building and secured the land.

After this, the RMC planned to construct a commercial-cum-parking plaza on the plot and sent the proposal toPunjab government. The two kanals corner plot is located adjacent to Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital in Raja Bazaar. The cinema house was established in 1919.

RTH, formerly known as the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, was established in 1850 as a dispensary.

After a century, it was designated as the district hospital in 1957. In 1999, the total beds in the hospital were 357 which were increased in 2012 to 453 and in 2024 to 560. It is the main hospital for treatment of medico-legal cases and a health facility for jail inmates.

RTH Medical Superintendent Dr Ikramullah told Dawn that they had proposed to get the land of the demolished cinema to upgrade the hospital`s emergency. He said that in 2006 the land was handed over to the hospital but later it was canceled.

He said the total area of the hospital was 62 kanals and it required more landto expand its services to cater to the rising number of patients.

He said there was a proposal to construct an emergency tower so people would get better healthcare facility. He said that the commissioner Rawalpindi hadbeen contactedin thisregard andhe had sent the proposal to the board of revenueforthelegalstatusofthetransferof land.

When contacted, RMC Chief Municipal Officer Imran Ali said that they wanted to construct a commercialcum-parking plaza to end parking issues in Raja Bazaar besides generating revenue which would be used for public welfare.

He said that a final decision would be made after permission of the provincial government. He said that RMC would act on the directives of the government. He said the land was secured and would be used for a people-friendly project.