Rs 100 billion expansion plan to add 500 beds and build twin towers while preserving 120-year-old heritage
KARACHI:
The Sindh government has approved the first large-scale expansion of one of the country’s oldest and busiest public hospitals, Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi. The project will add 500 new beds and introduce modern medical infrastructure while preserving the facility’s historic buildings that date back more than a century.
The Dr. Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital was originally built in 1898, decades before the creation of Pakistan. According to the new master plan, the hospital’s capacity will increase from 2,000 to 2,500 beds. The project has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs 100 billion.
The expansion plan also ensures the preservation of the hospital’s historic structures, some of which are more than 120 years old. These include the heritage building associated with Queen Victoria, along with other buildings of historical importance located within the hospital premises.
According to the approved design, the hospital will be remodeled in accordance with modern international sanitary standards. Two new 12-storey towers will be built within the hospital campus, with separate towers dedicated to medical and surgical units to provide patients with comprehensive treatment under a one-stop healthcare system.
The decision was taken on Monday during a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. During the session, the Prime Minister gave final approval to the hospital’s new master plan, which aims to transform the facility into a state-of-the-art healthcare facility. The project will also engage private partners under a public-private partnership model to help improve medical services, infrastructure and management systems.
Under the expansion plan, several new facilities will be established, including a new Outpatient Department (OPD) block, a modern burn ward and a dedicated jail ward. The project will also include the construction of a modern mortuary and the introduction of an improved hospital waste management system.
Chief Minister Shah further decided to form a monitoring board comprising government officials and private sector experts to oversee the implementation of the project and ensure transparency and timely completion.
Medical Superintendent Dr Khalid Bukhari said the hospital currently receives 6,000 to 7,000 patients daily for consultation and treatment. The expansion plan, he noted, has been designed to improve patient flow and facilitate access to health services for the large number of people who depend on the hospital.
Once completed, the renovated Dr. Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital in Karachi is expected to become the largest teaching hospital in Sindh, significantly strengthening the province’s public health system.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, Planning and Development Chairman Najam Shah, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi, Health Secretary Tahir Sanghi, Chief Minister’s Secretary Asif Jameel, Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Khalid Bukhari and Director Dr Dabeer. Social leaders Faisal Edhi, Mushtaq Chhapra, Dr Saad Khalid Niaz and Shahid Abdullah also participated in the meeting.
