RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government is working to provide all facilities to patients at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre Rawalpindi.
Moreover, work is also underway to establish a children hospital and a centre of excellence in nursing in Rawalpindi with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
This was stated by Punjab Minister for Health Khawaja Salman Raffique. At a meeting, He directed the additional secretary health, vice chancellor Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) and the deputy commissioner Rawalpindi to visit all proposed sites next week and submit a feasibility report.
Mr Raffique chaired a meeting regarding Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre. MNA Tahira Aurangzeb, Secretary Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Azmat Mahmood, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, RMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Umer and officials concerned attended the meeting.
Says work also underway to set up children hospital and a centre of excellence for nursing with support of ADB
The minister was briefed about the performance of the institution, health facilities and administrative matters. Hundreds of patients come to the OPD every day. Poor and deserving patients are also treated through financial screening. Other health facilities including dialysis, X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI are being provided. There are 35 dialysis machines at the centre.
The minister visited different departments of the hospital and reviewed the health facilities. He said efforts were being made to ensure the provision of quality health facilities across the province. Treatment facilities are also being provided to patients coming from Azad Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Meanwhile, another meeting regarding Children’s Hospital and Centre of Excellence of Nursing was informed that work was underway to establish centres of excellence for nursing were being set up in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi.
The minister said that all resources were being utilised for the improvement of the health sector. Instructions have been given to complete both health projects on time, and the required funds have also been released for both projects.
“Contractors who are not implementing government deadlines should be blacklisted immediately after giving necessary warnings so that timely completion of the projects can be ensured,” he said.
The secretary specialised healthcare said that all health projects across the province were being completed on priority basis.
Furthermore, at another meeting it was decided to take all steps to deal with dengue virus before its spread.
The minister said preemptive measures should be taken so that dengue does not get a chance to spread.
“The negligence of those violating SOPs poses a danger to everyone; therefore, strict legal action will be taken against those who are negligent in the anti-dengue campaign,” he said.
MNA Tahira Aurangzeb said special dengue wards should be activated in Murree district so that the patient load does not shift to Rawalpindi hospitals during the dengue season.
The official concerned informed the meeting that one case of dengue had been reported in Rawalpindi since January 1, 2026. The participation of volunteers, including students, in the dengue awareness campaign has been ensured, while awareness of dengue prevention is being provided through zero period in educational institutions. In addition, the Auqaf Department is also making regular announcements on the importance of cleanliness in mosques and methods of preventing dengue.
Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2026