News & updates on the project
-
PRESS RELEASE
Clarification on Novacare’s Project at CBD NSIT Lahore
Islamabad, Pakistan – October 22, 2025
We wish to clarify and nuance recent media reports and social media posts mischaracterizing the entities and relationships involved in Novacare’s upcoming project at CBD NSIT Lahore.
Novacare has been affiliated with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust since March 2024, under the Trust’s International Affiliate Network. The affiliation supports Novacare’s first state-of-the-art 250-bed tertiary hospital in Islamabad, now over 50% complete and scheduled to open in Q4 2026.
Under the Trust’s International Affiliate network, expert multidisciplinary teams from the Trust work with aspirational healthcare organisations like Novacare to help them establish and develop high-quality clinical standards and practices. Novacare was the second entity globally to join this International Affiliate Network.
Further details on Novacare’s affiliation are available on the Trust’s website:
https://www.private.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/international-affiliate-network
Novacare seeks to build a nationwide healthcare network across Pakistan. As part of its national expansion, Novacare has been allotted land in CBD NSIT Lahore for its second project — an Academic Medical Centre integrating healthcare provision, education, research, and innovation within a world-class setting, benefiting from the cutting-edge technological and academic ecosystem under development by the Government of Punjab.
The project in Lahore will be similar in scale, quality and structure to Novacare’s Islamabad project, and Novacare intends to build upon its wider collaboration framework with the Trust.
It is important to distinguish between Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London. The Trust is a UK National Health Service (NHS) organization, operating five major hospitals in London and leading one of the UK’s largest teaching hospital groups. Imperial College London is a separate academic institution; while the two work together and collaborate closely in several areas, the university is not involved in the Trust’s International Affiliate Network, and hence issued a statement refuting its presence in Pakistan.
-
Islamabad, Pakistan – September 10, 2025
Novacare Hospitals celebrated the topping out of its flagship Novacare Hospital Islamabad, marking the completion of the building’s full grey structure exactly on schedule and in less than 14 months—a major milestone for the project.
To celebrate this achievement, ~150 team members gathered on site for a special ceremony attended by Directors from Novacare, Izhar Construction, and Maven Projects LLP, along with all key project partners, including Hongkong Shanghai Electric Company Pakistan, Amcon, MIA Corporation, Pakistan Oxygen Limited, Allied Engineering, Jilani Facade Systems, Chawla Glass, and MEP Solutions.
The celebration featured the concrete pour for the final slab, the unveiling of a 50-foot banner proudly declaring “We Have Topped Out,” and the premiere of a short film documenting the journey of building Novacare Hospital. In recognition of the extraordinary teamwork behind this milestone, 32 colleagues were honored for their dedication and contributions.
“Reaching this stage on time is a testament to the meticulous planning, engineering excellence, and relentless commitment of our teams and partners,” said Ghalib Hafiz, a Director of Novacare. “Together, we are setting new benchmarks for healthcare infrastructure in Pakistan.”
Novacare Hospital Islamabad will combine world-class clinical care with cutting-edge medical technology, aiming to redefine healthcare delivery in the region.
-
26 June, 2025
Islamabad, Pakistan – Novacare Hospital Islamabad has reached a key milestone, with 85% of its grey structure frame now complete. The structure is on track to top out by September 2025.
In parallel, Novacare has awarded a number of major construction and engineering packages, covering electrical systems, backup power generation, plumbing, firefighting and fire alarm systems, medical gases infrastructure, façade glazing, and smart hospital ELV (extra low-voltage) passive infrastructure.
All systems are being designed and delivered to the latest international standards. Novacare is proud to collaborate with a group of industry-leading partners, including Izhar Construction, Amcon Limited, Allied Engineering, Pakistan Oxygen Limited, and Jilani Facade Systems — together raising the bar for hospital design and construction in Pakistan.
Committed to transparency and excellence, Novacare follows a competitive tendering process for all construction and medical equipment procurement. By selecting leading OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and awarding contracts on a best-value basis, Novacare aims to deliver world-class clinical care to its patients at the most affordable cost.
-
04 March, 2025
Islamabad, Pakistan – Novacare Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan’s first internationally affiliated hospital, is proud to announce its decision to procure state-of-the-art elevators, escalators, and dumb waiters from Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Company (SMEC), through Jeewajee (Private) Limited.
Set to open in 2026, Novacare Hospital will bring world-class healthcare infrastructure to Pakistan, featuring 250 beds and a design optimized for both vertical and horizontal efficiency. To support this, the hospital is investing in cutting-edge vertical transportation solutions, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-speed movement of patients, staff, and critical goods.
Key Features of the Elevators & Escalators
Oversized High-Speed Elevators – Designed to handle bed movement, including trauma cases, as well as goods transportation.
Latest Safety & Comfort Technologies – Incorporating infection control measures, fall prevention systems, and smooth, quiet operation for patient comfort.
Fire Safety Integration – Elevators will play a crucial role in emergency evacuation planning, and in fire suppression.
Aesthetic & Functional Design – Blending advanced safety features with a modern, visually appealing look.
Artificial Intelligence to optimize performance – Integrated with a smart building management system, to minimize wait times, energy use, and proactively manage safety issues.
Statement from Novacare’s Leadership
Ghalib Hafiz, Founding Director of Novacare Hospital, emphasized the importance of world-class vertical transportation in the hospital’s design:
“Novacare is designed to optimize movement across both vertical and horizontal spaces. It was crucial for us to have high-quality, state-of-the-art vertical transportation solutions to ensure smooth operations. We are very fortunate and privileged to work with Jeewajee and Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Company. Together, we’ve worked in great detail to perfect both the safety features—such as infection control and fall prevention—and the aesthetic and other functional aspects of the elevators, such as the latest smart and self-learning algorithms. This partnership reflects our commitment to providing a truly world-class hospital experience.”
As Novacare Hospital moves towards completion, this collaboration marks a significant milestone in bringing cutting-edge healthcare infrastructure to Islamabad and beyond.
-
04 January, 2025
Novacare Hospitals (Private) Limited announced that it has completed 32% of civil works on the grey structure of its upcoming hospital in Islamabad.
Construction is running ahead of schedule on an ambitious 466-day timeline — the grey structure will be complete in October 2025, and the hospital is set to open in September 2026.
-
21 June, 2024
Novacare Hospitals (Private) Limited has awarded Izhar Construction (Pvt) Limited, one of Pakistan’s leading construction contracting companies, the main civil works contract for its forthcoming 250-bed hospital in DHA Phase 5, Islamabad.
This marks a significant milestone in Novacare’s plans to establish Pakistan’s most advanced hospital. Novacare remains committed to upholding world-class construction quality standards, stringent health & safety protocols, and embracing environmental sustainability & social responsibility.
Novacare ran a competitive tendering process for this package, in which nine firms in Pakistan Engineering Council’s top category (C1) bid for the project. Izhar was deemed technically the strongest bidder and the project team weighted both the financial proposals and technical evaluation in its final recommendation to the Novacare board to award the package to Izhar.
“We feel privileged to partner with a firm like Izhar,” stated Ghalib Hafiz, Director of Novacare. “Izhar brings deep expertise and a proven track record in the construction industry in Pakistan. We feel especially aligned with them in our ethos & values – delivering excellence, working against ambitious timelines, prioritizing stringent health & safety standards, and leveraging technology to streamline all aspects of project delivery. Insha Allah, with the collaboration of Izhar and our other project partners, we will set a new benchmark for healthcare construction projects in Pakistan”.
Phase 1 of the hospital project spans approximately 590,000 square feet across 12 floors, including 2 basements. The structural frame is slated for completion by Q4 of 2025. In the coming months, Novacare plans to tender additional construction packages for the hospital, encompassing MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems, and all finishing works.
The award of the main civil contract signifies a pivotal moment in the project’s progression. With this milestone, Novacare reaffirms its mission, purpose, and commitment to enhancing years of quality of life within our families and communities, while creating an unrivalled professional environment for the next generation of outstanding Pakistani healthcare practitioners.
Izhar Construction (Pvt) Limited digital presence is on:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/izhar-construction-official/
-
Novacare Hospital Islamabad Advances Excavation Protection System: Completes Pile Installation, Shifts Focus to Anchors
Islamabad, 05 April 2024
Novacare Hospital Islamabad, which aims to create Pakistan’s highest-quality hospital infrastructure, is making progress on its excavation protection system.
The excavation protection system is a critical aspect of the hospital's development project, designed to ensure the safety and stability of the adjoining soil during excavation and construction activities.
With the successful completion of all 200 bored piles, the hospital is now transitioning its focus towards the installation of anchors, marking another milestone in the construction process.
Anchors play a vital role in stabilizing the excavation site and preventing soil movement, especially in areas where space constraints or soil conditions pose challenges.
The Excavation Protection System works have been awarded to Condrill Construction & Drilling Engineers (https://condrill.com.pk/) who have been specializing in this field of construction since 1982.
By employing advanced engineering techniques and state-of-the-art technology, Novacare Hospital Islamabad aims to set a new standard for construction safety, quality, speed and efficiency in the country.
-
Novacare Hospitals to open Pakistan’s first internationally affiliated hospital in Islamabad in 2026
Islamabad, 11 March 2024
Novacare Hospitals (Private) Limited announced today that it will start constructing a state-of-the-art hospital in Islamabad, and has signed an international affiliation agreement with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, a leading UK teaching hospital group. The total investment in the project will be USD 110 million, and the hospital will be located on a 50-kanal (225,000 square foot) plot in DHA Phase-V, along the main DHA Expressway.
The 250-bed hospital will have a covered area of 550,000 square feet and will provide comprehensive tertiary healthcare across 28 clinical services. The hospital is being designed by HKS, a leading global design firm. It aims to become Pakistan’s first LEED, WELL, and EDGE-certified hospital which are best-in-class certifications for sustainability and users’ wellbeing. It also aims to achieve Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, to achieve high standards of clinical quality & patient safety.
Novacare is a recently established private healthcare provider in Pakistan, sponsored by the Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (part of the Kohinoor Maple Leaf Group) and managed by Andalus Holdings. Novacare aims to develop a world-class healthcare network across Pakistan and plans to open similar hospitals across other major cities of Pakistan. It will also develop satellite clinics, day surgery centers, diagnostics collection centers, medical education facilities, and a digital care navigation platform.
The leadership team at Novacare will include seasoned healthcare professionals with local and international experience. Novacare is led by Mr. Johannes (Hans) Kedzierski who has previously served as the CEO of leading hospitals in multiple geographies including Medical Center Alkmaar, Netherlands, one of the largest Dutch teaching hospitals, Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, and, King’s College Hospital London in Jeddah.
The affiliation was closely supported and facilitated by the U.K.’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) in Pakistan, along with the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in London. A signing ceremony took place in London on March 6, 2024, at the offices of the UK DBT at Admiralty House, which was attended by representatives from Imperial College Healthcare, Novacare, and the UK government.
As a result of its affiliation with Imperial College Healthcare, Novacare will benefit from the expertise of a leading UK teaching hospital group. Novacare will gain expert advisory input from Imperial College Healthcare on models of care, services, and staffing, and aims to implement their clinical standards and protocols. Through these measures, Novacare intends to achieve the same standards of healthcare as is delivered at Imperial College Healthcare’s five London hospitals.
About Novacare
Novacare is developing a world-class, hub & spoke healthcare network across Pakistan, to enhance years of quality life within our families & communities, and to create an unrivaled professional environment for the next generation of world-leading Pakistani healthcare practitioners.
Website: www.novacare.health
Email: info@novacare.health
About Imperial College Healthcare Private Care
Imperial College Healthcare Private Care is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, one of the largest teaching hospital groups in the UK. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has a global reputation for excellence in care, research, and education, and together with its affiliated university, Imperial College London, it runs the UK NHS’s largest biomedical research center. Imperial College Healthcare Private Care provides care for local and international patients across five renowned hospital sites in central and west London, including the flagship private facility, The Lindo Wing, and St Mary’s Hospital.
Imperial College Healthcare Private Care
Website: https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/private-care
About Kohinoor Maple Leaf Group (KMLG)
Kohinoor Maple Leaf Group (KMLG) is one of Pakistan’s largest conglomerates, with diverse operations in the textile, cement, and financial sectors, and traces its roots to an enterprise founded in the 1930s in Calcutta as the Kohinoor Rubber Works. The group currently is a majority shareholder in Kohinoor Textile Mills Limited (KTML), Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCFL), and Maple Leaf Capital Limited (MLCL).
About Andalus Holdings
Andalus Holdings is an investment holding and advisory firm based in Abu Dhabi, comprising a dedicated team of investment and healthcare professionals with decades of local and international experience.
About the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom, equivalent to other countries’ ministries of foreign affairs. The department in its various forms is responsible for representing and promoting British interests worldwide.
About the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
The Department for Business & Trade (DBT) is the UK’s department for economic growth. DBT supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.
About HKS
HKS is a global firm of architects, designers, planners and advisors who create places noted for their beauty and performance. It employs 1,600 people in 29 offices, united by the belief that an environmental, social and governance approach to design achieves design excellence. In 2023, HKS became a carbon neutral firm. HKS values honesty, diversity and inclusion and celebrates creative thinking. In partnership with its clients and collaborators, HKS crafts powerful ideas and solutions. Together HKS creates places that stand apart.
-
23 November, 2023
Novacare Hospitals (Private) Limited has initiated enablement works on its Islamabad hospital site in Phase V of DHA Islamabad.
These enablement works will help prepare the site for the initiation of substantial construction on the site in the first half of 2024.
The scope of this enablement work includes:
- Erection of fencing, gates, and boundary wall hoardings;
- Installation of Project Information Boards;
- Connection of temporary utilities;
- Construction of drainage channels for stormwater along the external graded perimeter of the plot;
- Deployment of temporary site facilities;
- Site clearing, grubbing and levelling; and
- Excavation works, and excavation protection system for future basements.
The expected value of the total enablement works on the Novacare Hospital site is over PKR 450 Mn, and contracts have been awarded to reputable vendors as part of a competitive procurement process.
Novacare Hospital is on-track for initiation of substantial construction in the first half of 2024, and for opening in 2026.
-
04 October, 2023
Novacare Hospitals (Private) Limited has awarded 6 contracts for pre-construction services with a combined contract value of PKR ~950 Mn to initiate the development of its Islamabad Hospital.
Services awarded by Novacare Hospitals cover all the design and pre-construction outputs and planning requirements, including:
- Plot Topographical Survey;
- Geotechnical Investigation;
- Hydrological Survey;
- Traffic Impact Study;
- Environmental Impact Assessment;
- Medical Equipment & Clinical Services Planning;
- Architectural design;
- Mechanical Electrical & Plumbing Design;
- Heating, Ventilation & Air-conditioning Design;
- Life & Fire Safety Design;
- Structural Engineering Design;
- Sustainability Design Review & Certification Advisory; and
- Construction Project Management.
Novacare has followed a competitive process to award each of these services in which multiple leading local and international firms tendered their proposals.
-
10 August, 2023
Novacare Hospitals (Private) Limited has selected HKS Inc., a global design firm as the lead architect for its upcoming 350-bed state-of-the-art internationally affiliated hospital in Islamabad.
The selection took place following a competitive process in which multiple leading healthcare-specialized international architectural firms tendered their proposals.
HKS Inc. is a global design firm, headquartered in Dallas, TX, USA, with more than 1,500 professionals based across 29 offices in 10 countries.
HKS follows an interdisciplinary design approach where architects and interior designers include researchers, urban designers, nurses, and anthropologists, among others in the design process.
HKS has been ranked in the top 3 in the 2022 Building Design + Construction Giants report of the largest healthcare sector architecture and engineering firms. The report is available on the following link:
https://www.bdcnetwork.com/top-170-healthcare-sector-architecture-ae-firms-2022
Commenting on the award, Hans Kedzierski, the CEO-designate of Novacare Hospital stated –
“We are quite excited to announce our partnership with HKS as the lead architect for Novacare Hospital Islamabad …
… It was important for us to select a firm that brings specialized healthcare knowledge & expertise, along with cutting-end design sensibilities.
… At Novacare, we believe that good design drives patient quality & safety and creates a healing environment for patients.
… And we want to create a great physical space for our teams to be excited and motivated to come to work every day, to achieve our mission to create an unrivalled professional environment.”
HKS has designed projects in Pakistan before this, including the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority Science Enclave which is currently under construction in Lahore.
Islamabad, 24 June, 2025
British delegation visits the Novacare Hospital construction site
Her Excellency Ms. Jane Marriott CMG OBE, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, visited the construction site of Novacare Hospital Islamabad accompanied by the UK Trade Envoy to Pakistan, Mr. Mohammad Yasin MP, who is on a 3-day visit to Pakistan.
Speaking to reporters at the iconic 13,000 square foot atrium of the upcoming hospital, the British High Commissioner said:
“This agreement is bringing the UK’s world leading healthcare expertise to Pakistan, and in turn support the UK’s NHS. Through sharing the NHS’s cutting edge clinical best practices, and through helping to develop staff, this agreement will directly help to save lives.”
Globally - virtually, 25 January, 2025
APPNA MERIT Webinar - Novacare team outlines their vision and shares their journey thus far
Ghalib Hafiz (Director); Hans Kedzierski (CEO & Director); and Mustafa Hassan (Technology & Digital Innovation lead)
Islamabad, September 22, 2024
Innauguration of the first vertical concrete pour
Mr. Oliver Christian, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan, and His Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai inaugurated the first vertical concrete pour of the Novacare Hospitals Islamabad project.
He was accompanied by Ms. Sarah Mooney, the British Deputy High Commissioner Karachi, Director of Trade Pakistan, and His Majesty’s Deputy Trade Commissioner for Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon -- and by Mr. Hamed Kamal the UK's Deputy Director for Trade to Pakistan.
The delegation from the UK was also briefed by the Andalus Holdings and Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited Directors of Novacare Hospitals (Private) Limited on the key aspects of the project including the International Affiliation with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust -- the team in the briefing included Hans Kedzierski, Faraz M. Minai, David Heyman, Ghalib Hafiz, Mian Taufique Saigol, Danial Saigol, Sayeed Saigol, and Mohsin Naqvi.
London, March 06, 2024
International affiliation signing ceremony
A signing ceremony was held at the offices of the UK Department for Business & Trade at Admirality House, a historic building in Whitehall, London, attended by key officials from Imperial College Healthcare, the UK government, and Novacare.
Press coverage on…
