KP rolls out instant visas and Torkham help desk for Central Asia

Revolutionary Measures to Promote Medical Tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Immediate Visa for Central Asian Patients and Establishment of Special Help Desk at Torkham Border

In line with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vision to boost tourism, the provincial government has taken significant and far-reaching steps to promote medical tourism. Under these initiatives, foreign patients, including those from Central Asian countries, will be granted immediate visa facilitation, and a dedicated help desk will be established at the Torkham border to ensure seamless access to medical treatment in the province.

A joint meeting of the Department of Culture & Tourism, Archaeology & Museums and the Health Department was held at the Department of Tourism’s conference room. The session was chaired by Secretary Health Shahid Ullah Khan and Secretary Culture, Tourism & Archaeology Dr. Abdul Samad. Senior officials from both departments attended and developed a concrete roadmap to operationalize the province’s medical tourism potential.

Participants highlighted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa holds immense potential to become a regional hub for medical tourism, attracting patients annually from the United States, Europe, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. The provincial government aims not only to leverage this opportunity to strengthen the local economy but also to win the confidence of international patients by offering world-class medical facilities.

It was also decided that the number of beds in four major hospitals in Peshawar—Hayatabad Medical Complex, Institute of Kidney Diseases, Peshawar Institute of Cardiology, and Burn & Trauma Center—will be significantly increased to manage the growing patient load efficiently. To facilitate this, the Department of Tourism will prepare a comprehensive summary and submit it to the Chief Minister through the Health and Home Departments, enabling rapid implementation of the project.