Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has in principle approved a comprehensive Rs100 billion master plan to transform the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), marking a major step in overhauling the provincial capital’s healthcare infrastructure while work is set to begin immediately on the Abdul Sattar Edhi Medical Tower.
The ambitious project, backed by a provincial government fund of Rs50 billion, aims to double the hospital’s footprint while preserving its historical legacy. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at the CM House on Friday, which was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders, reflecting a collaborative approach between the government and civil society.
The participants included Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Planning & Development Board Chairman Najam Shah, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi, Health Secretary Tahir Sangi, Secretary to the CM Asif Jameel, CHK Medical Superintendent Dr Khalid Bukhari and Director Dr Dabeer, and prominent philanthropists Faisal Edhi, Mushtaq Chhapra, Dr Saad Khalid Niaz and Shahid Abdullah.
The CM emphasised that the goal was to modernise the facility into a world-class healthcare hub. After the expansion, the hospital, currently housing 2,142 beds, will add 500 new beds. He made it clear that while the hospital moved forward, its past would not be erased. “I will completely restore the heritage building,” he stated, adding that historical structures would be protected amidst the new construction.
To tackle the chronic traffic congestion around the facility, the plan includes road widening. Both Yakoob Khan Road and Bezanji Road, which border the hospital, will be widened to ensure smooth ambulance access and ease patient transport. The ambitious project, funded by the provincial government, aims to double the hospital’s footprint while preserving its historical legacy, the CM said.
The hospital’s total area will expand from 835,095 square metres to 1,709,259 square metres. Dilapidated structures and underutilised open spaces will be replaced with modern vertical towers. These will house a dedicated medical tower and surgical ward, new OPD, burns ward, jail ward, modern mortuary, waste management systems, administrative blocks and specialised hostels for nurses and doctors. The meeting decided that a board comprising professionals from the public and private sectors would be appointed to oversee and expedite the project’s implementation.
