Jinnah Institute of Cardiology Name Unchanged: Minister Clarifies

Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has addressed speculations circulating on social media, confirming that the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology (JIC) in Lahore has not been renamed after Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Aurangzeb stated in a post on X, “The name ‘Jinnah Institute of Cardiology Lahore’ will remain as it is, and there are no plans to alter it.”

She further clarified that “Funding for the fiscal year 2025-26 has been allocated under the existing name ‘Jinnah Institute of Cardiology’ within the Punjab government’s Annual Development Programme.”

This clarification follows remarks made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during a Punjab Assembly session last Saturday, where she discussed the cardiovascular institute.

During the session, the Chief Minister commented: “The Maryam Nawaz Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases will serve as an extension of the PIC and is nearing completion.” She also shared visuals of the project during her presentation.

Subsequently, Punjab Health Minister Khwaja Salman Rafique indicated that the hospital had been named Maryam Nawaz Institute of Cardiac upon a resolution by the Board of Governors (BoG) of Jinnah Hospital in Lahore. This statement led many to believe that the institute was undergoing a name change.

Aurangzeb addressed the confusion through her post on X, stating: “Fourteen new hospitals are planned in the Nawaz Sharif Medical District to provide advanced heart disease and other ailment treatments. These hospitals are in the final stages of master planning. I urge everyone to verify information before disseminating news.”

The senior minister also requested journalists to ensure factual accuracy before reporting any news moving forward.