Islamabad: The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) will soon have a full-fledged presence in Islamabad as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board has approved allocation of 22 acres of prime land on a major city highway, following the special directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The CDA Board meeting, chaired by Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa, formally gave the nod this week, clearing the way for one of Pakistan’s most prestigious academic and healthcare institutions to expand to the federal capital. Officials said the site, located along a key artery of the city, is ideally positioned for accessibility and visibility, making it a landmark addition to Islamabad’s health landscape.
Confirming the development in an exclusive conversation with The News, AKU President Sulaiman Shahabuddin said: “On the prime minister’s directive, CDA has identified a very good green piece of land for the project. I personally visited the site, and it is an excellent option for a teaching and healthcare facility.”
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz was “very enthusiastic” about AKU’s expansion into the capital and had assured his full support to accelerate the project. “We want to build capacity in healthcare and training to strengthen Pakistan’s overall health infrastructure. A campus in Islamabad will enable us to serve not only the federal capital but also Northern Pakistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Although discussions with the government are still in the early stages and a detailed feasibility study is expected before construction begins, the land approval is being hailed as a breakthrough moment for AKU’s expansion northwards.
The move comes as part of AKU’s five-year strategic plan, under which Islamabad and Lahore were identified as priority locations for expansion due to their regional importance. Founded on the vision of His Highness the Aga Khan, AKU has already invested more than $2.2 billion in higher education and healthcare across Pakistan and internationally.
Since its inception, the university has pioneered several firsts, including Pakistan’s first private university in 1983 and the country’s first School of Nursing in 1980. Today, more than 80 nursing schools nationwide are led by AKU-trained professionals, while its health sciences programme is ranked among the top 100 globally.
The planned Islamabad campus is expected to combine a state-of-the-art teaching hospital, research facilities, and training programmes for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. Health observers say it will not only help ease the burden on government-run facilities such as PIMS and Polyclinic but also set new benchmarks for advanced healthcare and medical education.
“This is not just about building a hospital, it is about strengthening the entire healthcare ecosystem through education, training, and research,” Shahabuddin stressed, underscoring AKU’s long-standing mission to blend world-class healthcare with a deep commitment to public service.
With CDA’s approval and the prime minister’s direct backing, Islamabad is now on track to host one of the most advanced medical and academic facilities in the country — a project expected to transform healthcare access for millions across the northern region.
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