Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has clarified that there are no plans to rename the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology after Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, putting to rest recent speculations circulating on social media and other platforms.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the minister emphasized that the institute will retain its existing name. “The name 'Jinnah Institute of Cardiology Lahore' remains 'Jinnah Institute of Cardiology Lahore' and no changes are under consideration,” she wrote.
Marriyum Aurangzeb further stated that the project is part of Punjab's ongoing efforts to strengthen the healthcare system. “Funding in the Punjab government's Annual Development Program for the fiscal year 2025-26 has been allocated under the name 'Jinnah Institute of Cardiology'," she confirmed.
She also announced that as part of the government’s ambitious healthcare reforms, 14 new hospitals will be established in the Nawaz Sharif Medical District to provide "world-class advanced treatment of heart diseases and other ailments". The master planning for these hospitals is in its final stages, she added.
Also Read: Jinnah cardiology centre renamed Maryam Nawaz Institute
Talking to Samaa TV later, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique clarified the controversy surrounding the proposed renaming of the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology.
He stated that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz opposed the name change, emphasizing that “names don’t matter — what matters is the work being done.”
The health minister further clarified that CM Maryam had no role in the initial decision to change the name, which was taken at the cabinet and departmental levels. “The chief minister has now issued clear instructions that there will be no change in the name of the institute,” Rafique added.
He further said that the decision to rename the institute was taken at the cabinet and departmental level.
Just a day ago, Khawaja Salman Rafique had confirmed the name change in a conversation with Samaa TV, claiming that the renaming reflected the hospital's new identity as a separate, independent entity, no longer functioning as an expansion project of Jinnah Hospital.
“The hospital is now an autonomous facility and will be governed by its own board,” said Rafique. “It will not be under the administrative control of Jinnah Hospital any more or affiliated with it in any way.”
He had also revealed that the Maryam Nawaz Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases was being developed with a futuristic approach to meet international standards in cardiac treatment. Plans include:
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Installation of AI-powered and robotic medical machinery
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Infrastructure designed for health tourism
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Facilities aimed at attracting international patients seeking advanced cardiovascular care
“We expect that patients from abroad will come here for treatment. The hospital is being built with a vision for health tourism and cutting-edge technology,” Rafique added.
He had also claimed that the hospital’s name change was reflected in the provincial budget book and official departmental communications.
