Pakistan eyes $144b luxury medical tourism market

The army-run Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is keenly pushing forward a plan to establish Pakistan's first luxury medical tourism model centre in Islamabad, according to a report.

Pakistan aims to tap into a global industry worth $144 billion in which the country currently holds a negligible 0.5 per cent share.

The initiative was set in motion after Dr Muhammad Salman Khan, a Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon, wrote to the SIFC Secretariat requesting land or built-up space of up to 25,000 square feet to develop a five-star luxury medical centre, with room for future expansion.

In his letter, Dr Khan argued that cosmetic surgery and dentistry together account for roughly 35 per cent of global medical tourism traffic, and that Pakistan's specialist doctors could offer international-standard care at a fraction of the cost charged in Turkey, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Acting swiftly, the SIFC convened a high-level meeting on August 5, with representation from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Jinnah Medical Complex (JMC), and medical experts.

According to minutes of the meeting, Dr Khan presented a phased roadmap beginning with premium "MedSuites" in Islamabad, progressing to a dedicated Medical Tourism Centre and eventually culminating in a full-fledged Islamabad Medical City.

Natural first customer base

Participants noted Pakistan's competitive edge is of significantly lower treatment costs, a strong pool of qualified specialists and a large overseas Pakistani diaspora seen as a natural first customer base. It was jointly agreed that aesthetic tourism represents a distinct business model from medical tourism at large, and that establishing a dedicated luxury aesthetic tourism centre in the federal capital would allow Pakistan to lay a foundation stone for an industry capable of drawing thousands of patients and valuable foreign exchange into the country.

Officials at the meeting underlined that Islamabad, with its scenic setting, security, and world-class living standards, is best positioned to host the country's first such facility which would combine top-tier medical care with a five-star experience for patients and their families alike.

The meeting concluded with concrete instructions. The CDA has been tasked with convening a follow-up session, bringing together Dr Khan, the CDA chairman, and other stakeholders to deliberate on the project proposal in detail. Experts have been directed to submit a comprehensive investment, commercial and financial feasibility study for the proposed initiative at Jinnah Medical Complex.

Separately, the SIFC has been asked to immediately coordinate a meeting between expert doctors and representatives of Islamabad's leading five-star hotels to gauge commercial interest and assess the operational feasibility of dedicated medical tourism facilities.

With timelines already in motion and multiple government bodies engaged, the SIFC's push signals its intent to position Islamabad as the launchpad for a new, high-value segment of Pakistan's tourism and healthcare economy.