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Aug 14 , 2026
This undated picture shows the central entrance of the Pakistan Medical Center located at the Pakistan Association Dubai in Oud Metha, Dubai - Picture courtesy Pakistan Association Dubai/File
Pakistan Plans Luxury Medical Tourism Center to Tap $144 Billion Global Market
Islamabad: Pakistan is working on a three-phase plan to tap into the $144 billion global medical tourism industry, with the proposed facility to be developed in Islamabad in collaboration with the private sector, official documents and an industry official told Arab News on Thursday.
The initiative is being developed by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a high-level government body set up to facilitate and attract investment, in coordination with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and MSK Group, a cosmetic surgery company led by Dr Muhammad Salman Khan.
According to official documents seen by Arab News, a meeting held at the SIFC Secretariat at the Prime Minister’s Office on Aug 5 discussed a proposal submitted by Khan to develop a medical tourism ecosystem in Pakistan, beginning with premium “MSK Med Suites” in Islamabad and progressing toward a dedicated Medical Tourism Center and ultimately an Islamabad Medical City.
In his letter to the SIFC, Khan said the global medical tourism industry was worth $144 billion, while Pakistan’s share was only around 0.5 percent.
He highlighted the rapid expansion of the global medical tourism market and Pakistan’s competitive advantages, including significantly lower treatment costs, the availability of qualified specialists and a large overseas Pakistani diaspora that could serve as an initial target market.
“With improving international image of the country, it is high time to target new areas of revenue generation,” Khan wrote.
He added that two sectors alone account for around 35 percent of global medical tourism patient flows — cosmetic surgery, including hair transplants, facelifts, rhinoplasty, nose jobs, liposuction and body contouring, which accounts for 24.2 percent, and dentistry, which accounts for 10 percent.
“Together these two specialties make 35 percent of global patient flow from one country to another,” he wrote.
Speaking to Arab News, Khan confirmed the development and said the project could move forward relatively quickly by making use of existing infrastructure.
“Yes, we can see this happening very soon. We are looking at existing infrastructure so that the project can move forward without waiting for a completely new facility to be constructed,” he said, outlining the phased approach.
He said the project was envisaged as a two-year initiative comprising three stages.
The first phase would use existing infrastructure to begin operations as quickly as possible. The second phase, targeted for completion within six months, would depend on the Capital Development Authority (CDA) allocating a suitable building.
“The third and longer-term phase envisages the development of a full-fledged luxury medical tourism center spanning over an area of 25,000 square feet, with the aim of promoting Pakistan as an international health care destination,” Khan said.
Unlike a conventional hospital, the proposed center is designed as an integrated, high-end medical and hospitality facility combining specialized clinics and medical suites with luxury accommodation, he said. – Arab News
Courtesy Arab News
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