KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on Wednesday inaugurated the Indus University Hospital, a major healthcare project which, upon completion in the next three years, will become Pakistan’s largest free-of-cost hospital with a capacity of 1,350 beds.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the Indus Hospital and the Sindh government have jointly provided free healthcare to millions of people, describing the new hospital as a significant step towards strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system. He said the project would expand access to quality medical treatment for those who cannot afford care and would play a vital role in improving health outcomes in Karachi.
The Rs72 billion Indus University Hospital is being built on a 20-acre campus with a total built-up area of 3.52 million square feet. Once completed, it will offer comprehensive primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services free of cost, benefiting millions of patients every year.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, cabinet ministers, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, Secretary Health Rehan Iqbal Baloch, Chairman Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) Board Abdul Karim Paracha, board members Khalid Khanani and Salim Razaq Tabani, donors and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.
During the visit, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari toured the newly inaugurated facilities, which include modern emergency and outpatient departments, advanced diagnostic services, internationally benchmarked operating theatres and patient-centred infrastructure built in line with global standards. Further construction and service expansion will continue over the next three years.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reiterated the Sindh government’s commitment to providing free, affordable and quality healthcare through effective public–private partnerships. He termed the Indus Health Network one of the most successful healthcare models in the province.
Recalling the early days of the Indus Hospital, Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh government initially provided a grant of Rs300 million, which has now increased to Rs8 billion in the current year. He said the partnership between the Sindh government and the Indus Health Network began with a small hospital in Badin and has continued to expand across the province.
The chief minister highlighted Indus Hospital’s key role during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that it rapidly expanded testing capacity at a time when testing numbers were very limited elsewhere. He added that despite economic challenges in the post-COVID period, the Sindh government continued to support the Indus Health Network.
Sharing patient statistics, Murad Ali Shah said around 30 per cent of patients at Indus Hospital come from Landhi and Korangi, 20 per cent from other areas of Karachi, while nearly 50 per cent travel from outside the city, including from Balochistan and Punjab.
He said the government is further expanding collaboration with Indus Health Network in areas such as tuberculosis control, rabies prevention and strengthening healthcare services in districts like Badin, with new initiatives set to begin in the coming year.
Chairman IHHN Board Abdul Karim Paracha thanked the Sindh government for its continued support, while President Indus Hospital Dr Abdul Bari Khan described the project as a transformative development for Pakistan’s healthcare sector.
CEO Indus Hospital & Health Network Prof Syed Zafar Zaidi said the Indus University Hospital reflects a vision rooted in compassion, dignity and patient-centred care, integrating healthcare, education and research under one roof.
The Indus University Hospital will include 36 international-standard operating theatres, specialised centres for cancer care, medical innovation and research, and academic–clinical integration linked to a health sciences university with seven colleges. Upon completion, it is expected to become a cornerstone of Pakistan’s free healthcare system.
