Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced that, with support from philanthropist Faisal Edhi, a Medical Tower will be constructed at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) for $17 million, of which $10 million has already been secured, while the government will provide the remaining $7 million.
He shared this during the inauguration of the new Emergency Block at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), an event also attended by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, and several other officials.
Murad Ali Shah highlighted the progress made in Sindh’s healthcare sector, noting that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, hospitals like NICH, JPMC, and NICVD were transferred to provincial control.
He recalled that when federal funding was suddenly halted, the Sindh government stepped in and approved a new budget.
At the time of transfer, the combined annual budget for these hospitals was Rs1.9 billion, which has now increased to Rs40 billion, reflecting significant growth and dedication to tertiary healthcare.
The Chief Minister emphasized the critical role of philanthropy in this expansion, praising the efforts of hospital executives and the Patient Aid Foundation.
He recalled a commitment made in 2017 to match funds raised by philanthropists. This partnership has since resulted in even greater contributions, such as $20 million raised for an Emergency Tower at Jinnah Hospital, with the government contributing only $15 million.
Murad Ali Shah also discussed the expansion of hospital capacity, noting that in the past 12 years, total beds at JPMC, NICVD, and NICH have doubled from 2,000 to 4,000, with a projection of 5,000 beds by 2028.
He compared this to the largest hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom, positioning Sindh’s hospitals among the largest globally.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister highlighted Karachi as a city full of opportunities, acknowledging some challenges but affirming the government’s commitment to further improving infrastructure to support growth and development.
Separately, the Directorate of Immigration and Passports has introduced an online passport application and renewal system through its e-Services Portal.
Citizens can now apply for passports via www.onlinemrp.dgip.gov.pk, either by logging into an existing account or registering a new one.
The system allows users to submit applications, select the nearest passport office, and upload required documents, including photographs in PNG, JPG, or JPEG format under 1 MB.
Online renewals are available only for passports with less than one year of validity, and significant changes, such as name or occupation updates, cannot be processed through this system.