Punjab Approves Construction of 3,000-Bed Kulsoom Nawaz Hospital in Rawalpindi
RAWALPINDI – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has greenlit the construction of Kulsoom Nawaz Hospital, a state-of-the-art 3,000-bed medical facility in Rawalpindi Cantonment, named after the late former first lady. The project aims to provide international-standard healthcare to residents of Rawalpindi and surrounding regions.
Key Features of the Project:
- Location: The hospital will be built on the site of the old GTS bus stand at Chohar Chowk, transforming a previously neglected area.
- Capacity & Specialization: The facility will include a dedicated cardiac ward and cater to patients from Taxila, Attock, Haripur, Fateh Jang, Tarnol, Hassan Abdal, and Golra.
- Funding & Timeline: Approved under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), construction is set to begin later this year, with PM Shehbaz Sharif expected to lay the foundation stone.
Political Significance:
- Fulfilling a “Long-Standing Dream”: Local PML-N leaders, including MNA Malik Ibra and MPA Malik Iftikhar, hailed the move as a step toward ending past neglect and ushering in a “new era of development.”
- Legacy Project: Named after Kulsoom Nawaz, the hospital underscores the Sharif family’s influence in Punjab’s infrastructure push.
Why It Matters:
- Healthcare Access: The mega-hospital will ease pressure on existing facilities in Rawalpindi-Islamabad, serving a catchment area of millions.
- Urban Revival: The project signals the government’s focus on upgrading congested urban zones, with the old bus stand repurposed for public welfare.
Challenges Ahead:
- Timely Execution: Punjab’s track record with mega-health projects (e.g., Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital) has faced delays.
- Funding Transparency: Opposition may scrutinize PSDP allocations amid economic constraints.
Next Steps:
- Finalization of PC-1 (project proposal) and tendering process.
- PML-N aims to showcase the hospital as a pre-election development milestone.
Context:
- Rawalpindi Cantonment lacks a tertiary-care public hospital, forcing residents to rely on Allied Hospitals or Islamabad facilities.
- The project aligns with PML-N’s healthcare agenda, mirroring past initiatives like Lahore’s Children’s Hospital
