Bilawal inaugurates Rs72 billion Indus University Hospital project

KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on Thursday inaugurated the Indus University Hospital, a landmark healthcare project that, upon completion over the next three years, will become Pakistan’s largest free-of-cost hospital with a projected capacity of 1,350 beds. The Rs72 billion project aims to provide comprehensive medical services to millions of patients annually without charge.

The opening ceremony was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, provincial cabinet ministers, and senior leadership from the Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), alongside donors and other officials.

Speaking at the event, Bilawal stated that the project represents a significant step toward strengthening the nation’s healthcare infrastructure. He added that the hospital would expand access to quality medical services for underprivileged citizens and improve health outcomes for Karachi’s population upon completion.

The initial phase unveiled on Monday includes modern emergency and outpatient services, advanced diagnostic facilities, and operating theatres built to international benchmarks. The complete facility, spread over a 20-acre campus, will ultimately include 36 operating theatres and centres for cancer care, medical innovation, and research, integrated with a health sciences university.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, addressing the ceremony, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to providing free and quality healthcare through public–private partnerships, highlighting the IHHN as a successful model.

Recounting the project’s origins, the chief minister recalled an early request from Dr Faisal Bari for a grant. Following a visit to the hospital, Shah said he advocated for the funds, which were sanctioned and used for land acquisition, marking the beginning of the expansion.

He noted that the Sindh government’s financial support for the Indus Hospital began with a grant of Rs300 million, which has since increased to Rs8 billion in the current fiscal year, demonstrating a long-term commitment to the institution.

The partnership later expanded, with the government entrusting the IHHN to manage a hospital in Badin and the Jamshoro Regional Blood Centre. The chief minister also praised the network’s crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it rapidly scaled up testing capacity from a few dozen to over a thousand tests per day.

Providing patient statistics, Shah revealed that nearly 50 per cent of patients at Indus Hospital travel from outside Karachi, including significant numbers from Balochistan and Punjab. The remaining 50 per cent are from Karachi, with the majority hailing from the Landhi and Korangi districts.

The chief minister also announced plans to further enhance healthcare in Badin by linking the district’s services to a main hospital in partnership with IHHN, with work scheduled to commence early next year. “Those who support us in these efforts are our partners, and these partnerships will continue until we ensure free, quality healthcare for our people,” he concluded.

Leaders of the Indus Hospital & Health Network expressed their gratitude for the government’s support. IHHN Board Chairman Abdul Karim Paracha appreciated the collaboration, while President Dr Abdul Bari Khan described the project as a transformative development. CEO Professor Syed Zafar Zaidi added that the hospital embodies a vision of compassionate, patient-centred care that integrates treatment, education, and research.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025