Work progressing rapidly on Maryam Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Gujranwala: Punjab health minister

Lahore | By Dr Ansab Ali
Punjab’s Provincial Minister for Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has said construction work on the state-of-the-art Maryam Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Gujranwala is moving forward at a rapid pace, as the provincial government steps up efforts to expand specialised cardiac care facilities.
The remarks were made during a high-level meeting held at the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department on the directions of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The meeting reviewed progress on the Rs10 billion cardiac institute being established in Gujranwala. Dr Adnan Khan participated in the meeting via video link.
The session was attended by several members of the National and Punjab assemblies, including MNAs Shahid Ibrahim, Bilal Farooq Tarar, Shazia Farid and Mahmood Bashir Virk, as well as MPAs Umar Farooq Dar, Qaiser Iqbal Sindhu and Imran Khalid Butt. Former federal minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan, the Commissioner Gujranwala, senior officials of the health department and other stakeholders also joined the meeting, some via video link.
Khawaja Salman Rafique said the institute would provide modern and quality cardiac treatment to millions of people in the Gujranwala division. He said the chief minister is personally committed to ensuring access to advanced heart care services closer to people’s homes, reducing the need to travel to major cities.
The minister added that parallel efforts are also under way to improve facilities at the Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology, describing the new Gujranwala institute as a “milestone” in strengthening Punjab’s healthcare infrastructure. He said the provincial government, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, is taking what he termed transformational steps in the health sector, with the provision of modern medical facilities as a top priority.
Secretary Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Azmat Mahmood Khan briefed participants on project progress, available resources and future targets. Dr Farqad Alamgir, Chairman of the Punjab Chief Minister’s Advisory Committee on Cardiology, said the meeting stressed the importance of human resource training and administrative transparency.
Officials said the institute will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, staffed by specialist cardiac doctors, and designed with patient-friendly facilities. At the conclusion of the meeting, participants reaffirmed their commitment to developing the institute on modern lines, saying it would significantly improve access to cardiac care for residents of Gujranwala and surrounding areas.