KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari inaugurated the new state-of-the-art OPD Block at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Karachi on Friday, marking another major expansion in the province’s free cardiac healthcare network.
The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, provincial ministers, Executive Director NICVD Prof. Tahir Saghir, Mushtaq Chappra of Patients’ Aid Foundation, government officials, donors, and senior medical professionals.
Constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.2 billion with support from the Patients’ Aid Foundation and contributions from Hilton Pharmaceuticals, the newly built 59,000-square-foot OPD Block consists of three levels and can facilitate around 2,500 patients daily. NICVD Karachi currently receives more than 1.4 million patients annually.
Speaking at the event, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said NICVD had emerged as one of the world’s leading cardiac hospitals, reflecting the Pakistan Peoples Party’s long-standing vision of accessible and quality healthcare. He said the institute’s progress embodied the aspirations of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, emphasizing that the PPP and the Sindh Government would continue supporting NICVD’s expansion and welfare initiatives.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah highlighted NICVD’s transformation since its devolution to the Sindh Government under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, noting its growth from a single facility into a province-wide cardiac care network. He commended NICVD for providing free, round-the-clock cardiac services across Sindh through its hospitals and Chest Pain Units.
Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho lauded NICVD’s service model and the dedication of its staff in delivering free, timely, and high-quality cardiac treatment. She said the Sindh Government remained committed to strengthening public healthcare institutions to ensure equitable access for all citizens.
Executive Director NICVD Prof. Tahir Saghir said the institute was now among the world’s largest cardiac care centers, treating over 1.4 million patients annually at no cost. He detailed upcoming projects, including Pakistan’s first 300-bed Cardiac Paediatric Unit and the 1,200-bed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (ZABICVD) in Landhi. He urged the Sindh Government to expedite the completion of the under-construction paediatric cardiac facility and sought support for establishing NICVD’s first cardiac unit in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Mushtaq Chappra briefed attendees on the planning and execution of the new OPD Block, stressing its patient-centered design, improved workflow, and integrated diagnostic and clinical services.
The inauguration of the new OPD Block underscores NICVD’s ongoing commitment to expanding free, advanced, and compassionate cardiac care for patients across Sindh and Pakistan.
