Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the health department to operationalize the closed Children Hospital in North Karachi area within 15 days.

Presiding over a meeting of the Public Private Partnership Policy Board here, CM Sindh said: “People of North Karachi cannot be denied the services of their health facility for the issues between the private partner and the government.”

Health Minister Sindh Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho informed the Chief Minister Sindh that the health department had executed a management contract with the Poverty Eradication Initiative (PEI) in Sept 2016 for a period of 10 years, but the private partner closed the hospital in December 2021.

Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput said he had worked out Rs616 million liabilities on the issue, and added that Rs425m was required to make the hospital operational.

Chief Minister Sindh said that he is ready to release the funds immediately but the hospital must be made functional within the next 15 days. He categorically said that it must be one of the best hospital in the city.

Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the health department to ensure the audit of the hospital right from its start in 2016. The policy board has approved the proposal.