MPA Zahir Shah Toru Pushes to Fast-Track Mardan Children’s Hospital Completion

Member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly (MPA) Zahir Shah Toru has directed authorities to expedite the completion of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Children Hospital (BBCH) in Mardan, with a focus on resolving electricity supply issues and removing administrative obstacles delaying the project.

During an official visit to Mardan Medical Complex (MMC) and BBCH, Toru held a high-level meeting with hospital management and officials from the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and the Communications and Works (C&W) Department to review the project’s progress and healthcare operational challenges.

Focus on Hospital Completion and Power Supply

The meeting was attended by Dean BKMC Prof. Dr. Jawad Ahmad, Hospital Director Brig (Retd) Dr. Muhammad Abrar Khan, Medical Director Prof. Dr. Muhammad Said, Chief Security Officer Syed Shahid Hussain, Manager Administration and Facility Dr. Rohail Hayat, SSP Focal Person and BBCH DMS Dr. Kamran Israr, and Nursing Director Noor Zada.

Discussions focused on energizing the hospital’s High Tension (HT) electrical panel, addressing technical bottlenecks, resolving issues related to critical medical equipment, and preventing further delays in completing the children’s hospital.

Following a site inspection of the HT panel, Zahir Shah Toru directed all relevant departments to complete their respective work and ensure the BBCH power feeder is energized within the coming weeks.

Additional Funding Needed to Complete Project

Officials from the C&W Department informed the meeting that Rs2.602 billion had been released out of the project’s total allocation of Rs2.607 billion, leaving Rs5 million yet to be disbursed. They also noted that additional funding would be required to complete the remaining work.

Toru pledged to coordinate with the provincial government to secure the necessary funds and support the project’s budget revision process.

MMC Seeks More Diagnostic Equipment

Hospital Director Brig (Retd) Dr. Muhammad Abrar Khan said replacement tubes for the CT scan and angiography systems have been procured and will be installed soon, while work is underway to restore the MRI system to full functionality by replacing damaged coils.

He also confirmed that outstanding arrears related to the Cath Lab have been cleared and transferred to the service provider.

The MTI management requested additional diagnostic equipment, including a second CT scanner, MRI machine and angiography unit, to manage the increasing number of patients.

Expansion of Cardiac Services

Dean BKMC Prof. Dr. Jawad Ahmad and Medical Director Prof. Dr. Muhammad Said said infrastructure for a second angiography unit is already available and work on a new Cardiac Surgery Center is progressing.

They said the facility has recruited a cardiac surgeon and established a team of interventional cardiologists. According to hospital officials, around 1,600 percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures have already been performed at the existing Cath Lab.

Hospital management also requested the release of outstanding payments owed by the State Life Insurance Corporation under the Sehat Card Plus programme.

Concluding the visit, Zahir Shah Toru reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening healthcare services in Mardan and said he would pursue the release of Sehat Card arrears while working with provincial and national legislators to address operational challenges facing the region’s healthcare facilities.

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