Peshawar – Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, has reaffirmed that the health and education sectors remain the foremost priorities of the provincial government, underscoring their direct impact on public welfare and human development outcomes.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day 2nd International Conference 2026 organized by Khyber College of Dentistry, the Chief Minister announced establishment of a dedicated Basic Sciences block and a hostel facility for house officers at the institution. He emphasized that the government is undertaking structured and forward looking interventions to align medical education standards with evolving global benchmarks.
The Chief Minister highlighted that sustained investments are being directed towards strengthening both health and education systems as foundational pillars of inclusive development. He noted that comprehensive, multi-dimensional reforms are underway to modernize healthcare delivery systems across the province, with tangible improvements expected in the near term.
He said that revamping of District Headquarters Hospitals has already commenced, with plans to extend similar reforms to Basic Health Units and Rural Health Centres in the next phase. “These interventions are designed to rationalize patient flow, reduce pressure on tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, and significantly lower referral burdens”, he said.
On human resource development, the Chief Minister said that recruitment of 2,400 doctors is in progress, including 250 dental surgeons, while 27 dental specialists have already been inducted. He reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing workforce gaps in the health sector on a priority basis. Additionally, he announced that stipends for house officers will be enhanced in the upcoming fiscal budget to incentivize and retain young medical professionals.
Expressing concern over delays in the Khyber Institute of Child Health (KICH) Hospital project, the Chief Minister said that the project has been delayed due to the federal government’s failure to release the required funds, describing it as discriminatory treatment. He said that the issue has been formally communicated to the federal authorities and, in the absence of timely fund releases, the provincial government will proceed with bridge financing to ensure project completion.
He further noted that over the past thirteen years, the provincial health budget has increased from Rs30 billion to Rs275 billion, reflecting a sustained policy commitment to strengthening the sector. During his address, the Chief Minister also expressed concern regarding the health condition of former prime minister Imran Khan, stating that he is being unjustly detained and deprived of essential medical care and basic human rights.
He highlighted the serious deterioration in his eyesight and called for immediate access to treatment under the supervision of his personal physicians at a well equipped medical facility, as it is a fundamental right.
Reaffirming the government’s resolve, the Chief Minister said that all necessary measures will continue to be taken to expand access to quality healthcare services, promote medical education, and strengthen institutional capacity, ensuring that public interest remains paramount.
Following the ceremony, the Chief Minister visited the dental exhibition held at the venue, where he was briefed on medical equipment, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and related products on display. Provincial Minister for Health, Khaliq-ur-Rehman, and other relevant officials were also present.
