KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday directed authorities to expedite construction on the 312-bed Hasan Suleman Memorial Hospital in Malir and ensure its timely completion to provide free healthcare services to citizens.

Visiting the under-construction facility, he said the hospital was fully aligned with the provincial government’s agenda of making modern healthcare accessible to every citizen.

He instructed the health department and project team to maintain the construction schedule and adhere to the highest healthcare standards.

A press statement issued by the CM House said the chief minister was received by hospital trustee Dr Javed Suleman, Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal, Sindh Higher Education Commission Chairman Prof Dr Tariq Rafi, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Executive Director Prof Tahir Saghir and architect Shahid Abdullah, among other officials.

During the tour of various wards and departments, he was briefed that the hospital was being developed over approximately 323,000 square feet for $23.5 million. Construction began in December 2022, and the facility is scheduled for inauguration on Dec 25, 2027.

Officials informed the CM that the concept was developed by Pakistani physicians based in Pakistan and the United States under the leadership of Dr Javed Suleman to provide high-quality affordable care to the citizens. He was further informed that Malir was selected for the project due to the “acute shortage of advanced healthcare facilities” in the area.

The officials added that the provincial government has provided land for the hospital and approved a matching grant for its construction, making it a key public-private partnership (PPP) initiative.

The chief minister was briefed that the hospital would house advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities, including MRI and CT scans, modern cardiac care units, emergency services, outpatient departments, intensive care units and coronary care units.

He said that the Hasan Suleman Memorial Hospital would significantly improve access to healthcare for the residents of Malir and surrounding areas. “Our foremost priority is to ensure that every citizen of Sindh has access to the best possible medical treatment,” he added.

He said that the province’s PPP model had proven successful in delivering essential services and that the government would continue collaborating with private partners and philanthropic organisations to strengthen the health sector.

The chief minister also directed officials to prepare an effective operational and management plan well before inauguration so services could be made available to the public immediately after completion.

He expressed satisfaction over the pace of work and said he looked forward to the hospital’s opening in December next year.

He said another 600-bed hospital project had been launched in Larkana to strengthen healthcare services in the province.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2026