PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Saturday decided to establish a state-of-the-art 1,000-bed tertiary care hospital in Malakand division.

The decision, according to an official statement issued from the Chief Minister’s House, was taken during a meeting of the health department with Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi in the chair.

During the meeting, the chief minister issued directions that the project be pursued in consultation with elected representatives of Malakand to ensure that local healthcare requirements were adequately addressed and that land should be acquired immediately for the proposed hospital.

Mr Afridi said that establishment of the tertiary care hospital would provide substantial medical relief to the

people of Malakand division by ensuring the availability of quality healthcare services within the region, the statement read.

He said the hospital would be equipped with modern medical facilities, including emergency services, cardiac care, and kidney transplant units, adding that the project would reduce the burden on major hospitals in the provincial capital and minimise the need to travel for medical treatment.

The chief minister also said that the proposed hospital would strengthen the provincial healthcare system while enhancing public confidence in health services.

Provincial health minister Khaliqur Rehman, MNAs Junaid Akbar and Dr Amjad, MPAs Shakeel Khan and Pir Musawir also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2026