KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated on Friday a newly established intensive care unit (ICU) at the Kidney Centre and pledged enhanced funding for the specialised hospital.

The new facility has been developed with the government’s support.

Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister said the government took pride in working with credible non-profit organisations through public-private partnerships.

“These are fundamentally government responsibilities. But, when sincere and capable partners are available, the outcomes are far better,” he said, while announcing a significant boost in government financial assistance for the hospital,” he said, adding: “The provincial government will increase its annual grant to the Kidney Centre from the current Rs300 million to Rs500m from next year. It will also support the establishment of a catheterisation laboratory at the hospital.”

Announces grant increase for hospital, support in establishment of cath lab

Mr Shah recalled that the Kidney Centre had also received support in the past from slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari.

“The Sindh government is providing over Rs100 billion in grants to the health sector. Our objective is to ensure that every citizen has access to the best possible healthcare facilities,” he added.

The chief minister praised the hospital’s 41 years of uninterrupted services and lauded the culture of philanthropy associated with it, noting that even schoolchildren had raised donations for the institution.

He paid special tribute to Marriana Karim, chairperson Friends of the Kidney Centre, for her four decades of fundraising efforts that helped build and sustain the hospital.

The event was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, senior health officials, and the hospital’s management: Chairman of the Board of Governors Adnan Afridi, Chief Executive Officer Dr Rashid Jooma, Dr Saeed Chishty, Dr Asim Ahmed, and Dr Salman El Khalid.

‘No discussion about change of governor’

Speaking to the media, the CM clarified that there had been no discussion regarding a change of governor and said his reservations about a recent meeting held at the Governor House had already been conveyed to the prime minister.

While the governor deserves respect, constitutional offices come with defined responsibilities, he said, expressing hope that the governor would perform duties strictly in line with the Constitution.Responding to some controversial statements by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), the CM said the party can do whatever it wants, but what was said in the recent meeting was unacceptable.

He said the Sindh Assembly had adopted a clear and strong position, which had been conveyed to both the president and the prime minister. He added that he had also personally informed the prime minister that any controversial remarks were unacceptable to the people of Sindh.

The chief minister rejected what he described as baseless allegations against President Asif Ali Zardari, saying false narratives were being deliberately promoted.

Criticising sections of the media, the chief minister accused some journalists and TV channels of spreading unverified and misleading information. Sometimes journalists also follow illusions, and then TV channels start repeating the same narrative, he remarked.

At least mainstream channels are expected not to amplify fake news, he said, dismissing a report circulated by an Islamabad-based anchor as entirely false.

Commenting on the regional security situation, he said that the nation had demonstrated unity in the face of aggression in the past as well. “The entire nation stands united against the enemy this time, too,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2026