The Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) have achieved a historic milestone by successfully completing 1,000 liver transplants, placing Pakistan among the world’s leading transplant centers.
This milestone reflects the vision and commitment of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to modernize Pakistan’s healthcare system and provide international-standard treatment for complex liver and kidney diseases within Pakistan, reported PTV news.
Established in 2017, during Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab, PKLI was founded as a model of excellence to bring advanced medical care to the nation’s doorstep.
Today, it has become a lifeline for thousands of patients whose lives have been saved through world-class treatment.
So far, the institute has successfully conducted 1,000 liver, 1,100 kidney, and 14 bone marrow transplants, while providing medical treatment to more than four million patients across the country.
According to PKLI administration, around 80 percent of the patients receive modern treatment free of cost, while those with financial means pay up to Rs 6 million, far less than the regional or international cost of similar procedures.
Before the establishment of PKLI, almost 500 Pakistanis each year were forced to travel to India for liver transplants, bearing heavy financial burdens ranging between US $70,000 to $150,000 per procedure, apart from the emotional and logistical distress.
PKLI’s success has ended that dependence and saved the country billions of rupees in foreign exchange.
The institute, however, went through a difficult phase in the past. Its operations were disrupted due to funding constraints and administrative hurdles during the tenure of the former Chief Justice and the PTI government, which affected the delivery of health services.
In 2019, PKLI managed to conduct only four liver transplants, reflecting the impact of those challenges.
With Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s return to office in 2022, the government took immediate steps to revive the institute and realign it with its mission of providing life-saving care to the people.
As a result, PKLI’s performance improved significantly, completing 211 successful liver transplants in 2022, 213 in 2023, 259 in 2024, and over 200 successful procedures so far in 2025.
PKLI today operates as a full-scale, international-standard facility with specialized departments in urology, nephrology, gastroenterology, interventional radiology, advanced endoscopy, and robotic surgery, all of which meet global benchmarks of quality and care.
With the patronage and support of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the institute continues to grow as a national center of excellence.
It is also training medical professionals under CPSP fellowship programs in 14 disciplines, with 93 trainees currently enrolled and 25 fellows already graduated.
PKLI’s future vision includes the establishment of PKLI University, Bio Bank Research Facility, and Medical Tourism initiatives, designed to elevate Pakistan’s healthcare system to international prominence.
PKLI today stands not just as a hospital but as a symbol of national pride, self-reliance, and compassion and the PM’s vision of accessible, world-class healthcare for every citizen of Pakistan.
