Nishtar Hospital Road Crisis Tests Multan's Resolve
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim. The sanctity of human life is a sacred trust in Islam, yet this principle is being severely tested on the roads of Multan. Prolonged construction on a 900-metre stretch of Nishtar Road between the Burn Unit and Nishtar Flyover has turned access to Nishtar Hospital into a painful ordeal. Thousands of patients, attendants, and healthcare workers face immense suffering, with ambulances frequently trapped in gridlocked traffic. Dust and noise add to the misery of those seeking healing. For three months, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), the National Highway Authority (NHA), and the district administration have failed to provide an effective traffic management plan or ensure the early completion of the project, leaving one of south Punjab's busiest healthcare facilities vulnerable to disruption.
Why is access to Nishtar Hospital blocked?
Nishtar Hospital stands as a great beacon of healing for the people of south Punjab. Today, access to this vital institution is blocked by civic apathy. Wasa started laying sewerage lines three months ago, but the work drags on. Neither Wasa, the NHA, nor the district administration has shown the urgency required to protect the sick. The absence of a traffic diversion plan speaks volumes about the disconnect between the rulers and the ruled. Our people are resilient, but resilience should not be an excuse for administrative failure.
How many patients suffer from the Nishtar Road delays?
The scale of this crisis is immense. Nishtar Hospital receives 4,000 to 5,000 outpatients and around 3,000 emergency cases every single day. Official data from 2025 reveals the hospital treated 885,124 OPD patients and 748,699 emergency patients. It admitted 833,737 patients and carried out 41,187 surgeries during that year. These numbers reflect the absolute necessity of uninterrupted access to the facility. Furthermore, around 8,000 to 10,000 people use this road daily. The route also serves several private hospitals, pharmacies, hostels, and residential colonies. Every delayed minute on this road risks a human life.
What are hospital officials saying about the crisis?
Nishtar Hospital Medical Superintendent Rao Amjad Ali Khan has spoken out against the suffering. He stated that patients, visitors, and hospital employees face immense difficulties due to the under-construction road.
Ambulances remain stuck in traffic, sometimes for hours, and patients are unable to reach the emergency ward on time.
He added that the continuous noise of vehicles and horns, coupled with dust generated by the excavation work, creates severe problems for patients, doctors, and staff. Patients admitted to wards and those visiting OPDs suffer due to the dust and noise pollution. A senior doctor at the hospital, requesting anonymity, revealed that faults in the initial installation of sewerage pipelines resulted in the removal of some pipes. This repeated excavation prolonged the work and caused unnecessary inconvenience. He lamented that the project has consumed three months, but there is no visible urgency from the authorities despite the daily influx of thousands of patients.
When will the Nishtar Road construction finish?
Wasa Managing Director Faisal Shoukat claimed that installation of the sewerage pipelines was completed a week ago. He termed the work technically challenging, stating that the old sewerage and water supply lines had been laid without proper planning, requiring additional time for removal and replacement. He noted that the NHA is currently excavating the road to lay sand and crushed-stone base before carpeting. He expressed hope that the road would be completed within a month. Insha'Allah, the end may be near, but hope alone does not clear the traffic today.
Why are Nishtar Road construction funds delayed?
A senior NHA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained that the carpeting of the road will be carried out after completion of the sewerage work. He admitted that the tendering process had been completed, but funds had not yet been released, causing delays in the execution of the project. When asked about the funds, Faisal Shoukat said he did not know about their release. The lack of financial urgency directly harms the people.
Who is responsible for the traffic chaos at Nishtar Hospital?
Commuters and hospital officials rightly question why the authorities failed to devise a traffic diversion plan. They knew this route provided access to a major tertiary-care hospital. Students residing in nearby hostels, pharmacy owners, and residents of adjoining colonies complain that traffic congestion has become a routine affair, with vehicles stranded for long periods. The people of Multan demand accountability. Our faith teaches us to ease the burdens of the sick, not compound them. The district administration must act immediately to restore order and dignity to the journey of healing.
Why is Nishtar Road under construction?
The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) initiated the project to replace old, poorly planned sewerage lines. The technically challenging nature of this replacement has caused repeated excavations and prolonged delays.
How long will the Nishtar Road closure last?
Wasa Managing Director Faisal Shoukat hopes the road will be completed within a month. However, the National Highway Authority is still waiting for funds to be released for the carpeting phase.
What is Wasa doing about the Nishtar Road delays?
Wasa claims the sewerage pipeline installation is now complete. Yet, initial faults in the pipeline installation required removal and replacement, extending the three-month ordeal for the people of Multan.