Kulsoom Nawaz Cancer Hospital Planned for Dera Ghazi Khan; Groundbreaking Expected in October

Dera Ghazi Khan: A new Kulsoom Nawaz Cancer Hospital is planned for Dera Ghazi Khan, marking a proposed expansion of specialised cancer-care facilities in South Punjab.

The Punjab government has approved the establishment of the proposed hospital as part of a wider set of healthcare projects aimed at expanding specialised medical services across the province.

The decision to establish the hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan was announced following a meeting on September 26, 2026, during which major healthcare projects across Punjab were reviewed. The proposed cancer hospital is expected to serve patients from Dera Ghazi Khan as well as surrounding districts and other parts of South Punjab.

Proposed 50-Bed Cancer Hospital

According to a recent public update shared by Punjab Assembly Member Muhammad Hanif Pitafi, the proposed Kulsoom Nawaz Cancer Hospital is planned as a 50-bed facility.

The hospital is proposed to be located near Medical College Dera Ghazi Khan, placing it close to an existing centre of medical education and healthcare services in the city.

The proposed site covers approximately 35 kanal of land. The project details describe a vertical hospital building consisting of a basement, ground floor and two additional floors.

The planned structure is expected to accommodate the hospital's clinical, diagnostic and supporting facilities, although the complete list of departments, treatment units and medical services has not yet been publicly detailed.

Estimated Project Cost

The latest project details shared publicly by Muhammad Hanif Pitafi place the estimated total cost of the proposed hospital at approximately Rs8.5 billion.

The stated cost breakdown is:

Capital Cost: Rs3.5 billion

Development and Equipment Cost: Rs5 billion

Total Estimated Cost: Rs8.5 billion

The development and equipment component is particularly significant for a specialised cancer hospital, where advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment would form an important part of the planned facility. However, the exact equipment list, treatment technology and departmental configuration have not yet been publicly specified in the available project details.

Earlier Cost Estimate

The project's cost has previously been reported at a substantially higher figure. Earlier information placed the estimated cost of the Kulsoom Nawaz Cancer Hospital at approximately Rs15.21 billion, with the project initially discussed as a multi-year development scheme.

The difference between the earlier Rs15.21 billion estimate and the more recent Rs8.5 billion figure has not been explained in the publicly available information reviewed for this report.

For this reason, the Rs8.5 billion figure is being reported as the latest publicly stated estimate, rather than as the final confirmed cost of the project. The final project cost may be clarified or revised through official planning, budget and development documents as the project moves forward.

Proposed Location Near Medical College

The proposed location near Medical College Dera Ghazi Khan could place the new facility within an existing healthcare and medical-education environment.

Dera Ghazi Khan serves as an important healthcare centre for a large surrounding area, and patients from neighbouring districts often depend on facilities in the city for specialised medical treatment.

The proposed cancer hospital could therefore provide a dedicated facility for cancer-related diagnosis and treatment closer to patients living in Dera Ghazi Khan and other parts of South Punjab.

Tentative Groundbreaking in October

Muhammad Hanif Pitafi's latest update states that the tentative groundbreaking is expected in October 2026.

The date is currently described as tentative, meaning that the actual start of construction will depend on the completion of the necessary planning, administrative, development and implementation processes.

Further information about the construction contractor, detailed project schedule, completion date and individual phases of development has not yet been publicly provided in the information available.

Expanding Cancer Treatment in South Punjab

The proposed hospital is expected to increase access to specialised cancer-care services for people living in Dera Ghazi Khan and surrounding areas.

For patients requiring specialised oncology services, access to treatment can involve travelling to larger cities when appropriate facilities are not available locally. A dedicated cancer hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan could reduce the need for some patients to travel long distances for specialised care, depending on the services ultimately provided at the facility.

The hospital is also being planned at a time when Punjab is undertaking several large healthcare projects involving cancer treatment and other specialised medical services.

Current Status of the Project

The Kulsoom Nawaz Cancer Hospital is currently a proposed and approved project and is not yet an operational hospital.

The approval of the project represents an important step toward its development, but construction, procurement of equipment, staffing, commissioning and the eventual opening of medical services will take place through subsequent stages.

The proposed October 2026 groundbreaking will be an important next step if the project proceeds according to the current tentative schedule.

Additional details regarding the hospital's departments, oncology services, medical equipment, staffing, construction timeline and final cost are expected to become clearer as formal project documentation and implementation progress.

For Dera Ghazi Khan and the wider South Punjab region, the proposed hospital represents a planned expansion of specialised healthcare infrastructure, with the potential to provide more local access to cancer diagnosis and treatment once completed and operational.