Peshawar – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Health, Khaleeq-ur-Rehman, chaired a high-level meeting with a mission from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) following the successful completion of its four-day review of the mega project for the rehabilitation and strengthening of District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospitals across the province.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Health Fayaz Ali Shah, senior officials of the Health Department, and representatives of the project implementation team. The ADB delegation included Senior Social Sector Specialist Heido Heitzing, Social Sector Specialist Umar Bin Zia, and Health System Strengthening Programme Technical Lead Zubaida Mustafa.During the meeting, the delegation shared the findings of the four-day review mission, highlighting the progress achieved under the ADB-supported Health System Strengthening Programme. The participants also reviewed key milestones in the ongoing rehabilitation and strengthening of DHQ hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The meeting reviewed the project’s physical and financial progress, implementation status, infrastructure development, procurement activities, and measures being undertaken to strengthen the delivery of quality healthcare services at district-level hospitals. Participants also discussed strategies to improve healthcare infrastructure, ensure the timely completion of development activities, and enhance public access to modern medical facilities throughout the province.Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Health Khaleeq-ur-Rehman appreciated the Asian Development Bank’s continued technical and financial support in strengthening Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s healthcare system.
He said the provincial government considers the rehabilitation and modernization of DHQ hospitals a top priority to ensure equitable, accessible, and quality healthcare services for citizens across the province.
The minister stated that the Health System Strengthening Programme is playing a vital role in upgrading healthcare infrastructure, improving service delivery, and enhancing the overall performance of public health institutions. He emphasized that modern facilities at DHQ hospitals would significantly reduce the burden on tertiary care hospitals while ensuring that quality healthcare services are available closer to people’s homes.Khaleeq-ur-Rehman directed the concerned officials to maintain effective coordination with the Asian Development Bank, expedite the implementation of all project components, remove operational bottlenecks, and uphold the highest standards of transparency and quality throughout the execution process. He reiterated that the provincial government is fully committed to completing the project within the stipulated timeline and ensuring that the benefits of these investments reach the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the earliest.
The ADB mission appreciated the commitment of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Health Department to the successful implementation of the programme and reaffirmed the Bank’s continued support for strengthening the province’s health sector through sustainable and impactful interventions.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further strengthening collaboration between the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Asian Development Bank to build a resilient, efficient, and people-centred healthcare system for the province.
