Pakistan is expected to award the construction contract for the Saudi-funded King Salman Hospital in Islamabad within 15 days, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said on Tuesday.

Kamal said 12 companies participated in the bidding process for the 400-bed hospital, a project that has remained stalled for around two decades. The international tender closed on September 7.

He said the first phase, comprising 200 beds, is expected to become operational within two years. The project’s old design has also been updated to meet current healthcare requirements.

Kamal made the remarks while visiting the Federal Government Polyclinic Phase-II extension, another 400-bed hospital project in Islamabad. He said the facility is expected to become operational by March 2027.

The projects come as pressure grows on Islamabad’s public hospitals following the August 26 fire at PIMS that killed 14 newborns. Kamal said fire-safety and structural audits of federal health facilities have been ordered, with the Capital Development Authority given 15 days to complete them.

The minister also announced a Rs6.8 billion diabetes screening program, which will begin in Islamabad before being expanded to other provinces.

Kamal said the government estimates that around 45 million people may have diabetes in Pakistan, while millions remain unscreened.