KARACHI: In a major development amid the ongoing administrative turmoil at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), the Sindh government has appointed Dr Khalid Sher, Professor of Neurology at Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), as the new Executive Director of JPMC. The posting has been made on a three-year deputation, according to an official notification issued on December 1, 2025, by the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department.
The notification, signed by Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Hyder Shah, states that the services of Dr Khalid Sher have been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Health Department and that he will assume charge as the Executive Director of JPMC with immediate effect.
This administrative reshuffle comes at a time when JPMC is already facing a prolonged leadership crisis following the sudden passing of former Executive Director Prof. Dr. Shahid Rasul in late November. Since then, the hospital has been operating without stable leadership, causing serious concerns among staff, patients, and medical associations.
The uncertainty intensified as questions were raised over acting charge, decision-making authority, and continuity of critical services. The lack of clear administrative direction also coincided with public controversies—ranging from stalled appointments and delays in departmental functioning to the unresolved issue of missing house-job seats that has already triggered debate over transparency and governance within Sindh’s largest tertiary-care institution.
Health sector stakeholders say the appointment of a new Executive Director was urgently required to restore administrative stability and ensure that JPMC’s clinical, academic and operational functions do not deteriorate further. Several senior doctors expressed hope that the new ED will be able to steer the institution through a sensitive transition period.
JPMC, one of Pakistan’s busiest public hospitals, caters to millions of patients annually and oversees dozens of departments, training programmes and emergency services. Officials say that effective leadership is crucial to maintaining service delivery, initiating reforms, and rebuilding administrative confidence.
With Dr Khalid Sher now taking charge, the provincial government expects that the leadership vacuum will be filled and the hospital’s operations will return to a stable footing. However, medical associations and observers will be watching closely to see how the new ED addresses the ongoing challenges, including internal administrative discord, staffing concerns and pending inquiries.
