ISLAMABAD, May 06: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, visited the site of the King Salman Hospital project in Islamabad, where he was briefed on the progress and key developments of the long-awaited initiative.

Speaking to the media, the Federal Health Minister announced that the construction of the King Salman Hospital, which had remained pending for the past nine years, is now set to commence. He noted that the project was originally initiated in 2017, and all outstanding hurdles have now been resolved, said a press release on Wednesday.

The Minister highlighted that the hospital is being established through a generous grant from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He further stated that the construction will be carried out through an international competitive bidding process to ensure transparency and quality standards.

Sharing project details, the Minister informed that, in its initial phase, a 200-bed hospital will be constructed at an estimated cost of PKR 7 billion. He added that the facility will later be expanded to a 600-bed hospital to cater to growing healthcare needs. The hospital will include eight major medical specialties, providing comprehensive healthcare services.

Syed Mustafa Kamal emphasized that the residents of Tarlai and surrounding areas will significantly benefit from improved access to quality healthcare services. He reiterated that the government is taking practical steps to strengthen the health sector across the country.

Highlighting recent achievements, the Minister stated that 380 hospital beds have been added in Islamabad over the past year. He added that when including hospitals under the Sehat Sahulat Programme, the total increase reaches 6,633 beds, reflecting the government’s commitment to expanding healthcare infrastructure.

Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal extended heartfelt congratulations to Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the success of “Marka-e-Haq” (the Battle for Truth).

He also congratulated every citizen of Pakistan, stating that this achievement belongs to the entire nation. The Minister remarked that, by the grace of Allah, Pakistan secured victory against an adversary many times larger, demonstrating resilience, unity, and unwavering faith.

He further noted that the success of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos has elevated Pakistan’s stature on the global stage, highlighting the country’s strategic importance and leadership.

Syed Mustafa Kamal stated that Pakistan has emerged as a force for peace, even playing a role in preventing a larger global conflict. He emphasized that this was made possible because Allah granted significance and strength to Pakistan’s leadership and its people during this critical time.

The Minister added that Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir with the help of Allah and support of Nation and all defense forces have saved millions of lives, and prayed for his continued health and strength to serve the nation further.

He also expressed prayers for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, hoping he continues to lead the country towards greater achievements.

Concluding his remarks, he expressed confidence that following this success, Pakistan will also secure significant victories on the diplomatic front in the days ahead.