Federal funding delays stalling KP health projects

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has warned that several health sector schemes in the province are being held up because the federal government has not released funds, and stated that the provincial administration will move to complete them through bridge financing if the Centre does not cooperate.

He made the remarks while speaking at the opening session of the three-day 2nd International Conference 2026 organised by Khyber College of Dentistry.

The chief minister said health and education remained the provincial government’s foremost priorities, adding that both sectors were directly connected to the public and therefore required special focus.

Afridi said the recruitment process for 2,400 doctors, including 250 dental surgeons, was under way and would be carried out on merit and with transparency. He also said that 27 dental specialists had already been appointed.

During his address, he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening public healthcare and announced plans for a separate block for basic sciences at Khyber College of Dentistry, along with a hostel for house officers.

He said the government was taking concrete steps to align the standard of medical education with international requirements, and added that substantial investment was being made in the health and education sectors in line with Imran Khan’s vision.

Reforms in health institutions

The chief minister said reforms were being pursued on multiple fronts to modernise health institutions across the province, adding that their impact would become visible soon.

He said work to revamp District Headquarters hospitals had already started, while basic health units and rural health centres would be taken up in the next phase.

Afridi said these measures would help ease the burden on major hospitals in Peshawar and would also significantly reduce referral cases.

He further announced that stipends for house officers would be increased in the next fiscal year’s budget in a move aimed at encouraging young doctors.

Warning over delayed funds

Expressing concern over what he described as the federal government’s lack of seriousness and discriminatory attitude, Afridi said one hospital project had been delayed because funds had not been provided. "The federal government has been informed. If funds are not provided, the provincial government will complete the project through bridge financing," he added.

He also said the province would not allow important public health initiatives to remain stalled because of funding delays.

The remarks came as the provincial government outlined its broader plans for recruitment, institutional reform and infrastructure development in the health sector, with the chief minister linking these efforts to improved service delivery and reduced pressure on tertiary care facilities in the provincial capital.