Health & Policy | August 2026 | 4 min read
⚡ Quick Takeaways
- PKLI Rawalpindi is set to begin kidney and liver transplants in September.
- The hospital has received license approval from PHOTA for transplant services.
- Twenty kidney transplant patients and eight liver transplant patients are registered.
- The program will operate under the supervision of Prof. Faisal Saud Dar.
- Only blood-relative donors will be allowed under PHOTA rules and regulations.
PKLI Rawalpindi is preparing to launch kidney and liver transplant services in September, marking a major expansion of specialist healthcare in the twin-city region. The move follows license approval from the Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority and will bring transplant services closer to patients in northern Punjab and nearby areas.
| 20 | 8 | 4 |
| Kidney cases registered | Liver cases registered | Modular operation theaters |
Transplant Services Move Toward Launch
The Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center Rawalpindi is set to begin kidney and liver transplants after receiving approval from PHOTA. The hospital has already registered 20 kidney transplant patients and their donors, along with eight liver transplant patients and their donors.
The program is expected to start in September and will operate under the supervision of Prof. Faisal Saud Dar, Dean of PKLI Lahore and Rawalpindi and a leading liver transplant surgeon in Pakistan.
For patients in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, northern Punjab, Azad Kashmir and nearby regions, the new service could reduce the need to travel to Lahore or other major centers for advanced kidney and liver transplant care.
| Positive Signal: The launch could improve access to advanced transplant care for patients in Rawalpindi and surrounding regions. |
Hospital Has Expanded From Urology Base
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the Institute of Urology and Transplantation at Murree Road, Shamsabad, in April 2023. The facility was later affiliated with PKLI Lahore and granted the status of a PKLI hospital.
PKLI Rawalpindi currently provides emergency services, outpatient department facilities, dialysis, laser treatment, lithotripsy for kidney stones, CT scans and laboratory testing. The transplant launch would add a higher-complexity service line to that existing base.
The hospital is also expected to introduce robotic surgery soon, although its immediate headline expansion is the start of kidney and liver transplantation under regulatory oversight.
| Service Or Resource | Current Status | Why It Matters |
| Kidney transplant | 20 patients and donors registered | Shows patient pipeline before launch |
| Liver transplant | 8 patients and donors registered | Adds advanced hepatobiliary care capacity |
| Operation theaters | 4 modular theaters | Supports complex surgical procedures |
| Critical care | ICU and HDU available | Needed for transplant monitoring and recovery |
| Support services | Radiology and pathology | Provides diagnostics and clinical backup |
| Context: PKLI Rawalpindi’s role has grown from urology and dialysis services toward full kidney and liver transplant care. |
PHOTA Rules Will Govern Donations
Project Director Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Khan said human resource arrangements have been completed. The hospital has two kidney transplant surgeons and two liver transplant surgeons, along with their respective teams, available at the facility.
He said all kidney and liver transplants will be carried out according to PHOTA rules and regulations. Under the stated arrangement, only blood relatives will be allowed to donate a kidney or part of their liver to a patient.
That regulatory point is important because transplant programs require strict screening, donor protection, informed consent and oversight to prevent illegal organ trade and unsafe medical practices.
New Services Could Reduce Regional Pressure
If the program begins as planned, PKLI Rawalpindi could become a major referral point for patients who need specialized kidney and liver care outside Lahore. The facility’s location on Murree Road places it within reach of Rawalpindi, Islamabad and several nearby districts.
The benefit will depend on how quickly transplant workflows, donor screening, post-operative care and follow-up services become stable. Transplant care is not only a surgical service; it requires long-term monitoring, medication management and patient counselling.
For now, the approval and patient registration figures show that the hospital is moving from preparation into implementation. The coming months will indicate how smoothly the new program can handle its first transplant cases.
| Caution: Patients should follow official PKLI and PHOTA procedures, as transplant eligibility depends on medical review and donor approval. |
Disclaimer: This article is based on PKLI information and media reports available on August 17, 2026. It is for news purposes only and should not be treated as medical advice. Patients should consult qualified doctors and official hospital channels.
