Our Story
Quality healthcare, within reach of more people — that’s the promise The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has worked toward in Pakistan for over four decades.
Founded in 1985
On November 11, 1985, our Founder and First Chancellor, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, opened AKUH and the Faculty of Health Sciences in Karachi.
AKUH was built to raise the standard of healthcare in Pakistan, combining clinical excellence with a commitment to equitable access. We believe that high-quality care should remain within reach, even in health systems facing complex social and economic challenges.
A Bigger Vision
AKUH is part of The Aga Khan University, founded under the Ismaili Imamat’s longstanding commitment to education and community upliftment — a tradition reaching back to institutions such as Al-Azhar in Cairo, founded in 970 CE.
This vision unites excellence and equity: healthcare standards should improve, and access should expand.
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“ My hope is that this institution will bring credit upon the country which has given it birth. ”
- Aga Khan IV, Karachi, 16 March 1983
Our Journey
Since 1985, AKUH has grown from a single hospital into a health system reaching more than 130 cities across Pakistan. From achieving Pakistan’s first JCI accreditation in 2006 and the country’s first CAP accreditation in 2019 to bringing four Aga Khan Health Services hospitals into the AKUH network in 2010, each milestone reflects our commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassionate care.
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A Legacy of Care Begins
The Kharadar Hospital began as the Janbai Maternity Home, serving women and families in one of Karachi's oldest and most densely populated areas.
Learn moreIt became the first hospital in what would later become part of the AKDN Health System, continuing a legacy of care that spans more than a century.
Principles That Shape Our Care
Since 1985, AKUH has continued to grow and evolve, expanding its health care network while strengthening its role in education, research and clinical innovation. Through this journey, our commitment to our Guiding Principles - Quality, Access, Relevance and Impact - has remained at the heart of our work.
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Care Across Pakistan
Today, you will find our care across the country. Anchored by our 720-bed quaternary care hospital in Karachi, our nationwide network includes:
Four off-campus hospitals
19 medical centres
More than 50 pharmacies
Over 300 laboratory sites
Over four decades, we have cared for nearly 18 million outpatients, admitted more than 1.6 million inpatients, and performed over 600,000 surgeries.
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Making Care Accessible
Cost should not determine who can access quality care. In 2025, our zakat and welfare programmes supported 1.6 million patient visits, providing PKR 8.68 billion (USD 31 million) in financial assistance.
To date, we have provided PKR 57 billion (USD 205.7 million) in support to more than 12.9 million patient visits. AKUH, Pakistan provides 70–75% of this support, reflecting our longstanding commitment to making quality care accessible to those who need it.
Accredited and Trusted
Independent international bodies verify the quality of our care – each accreditation a first in Pakistan:
Joint Commission International (JCI) accredits AKUH as an Academic Medical Centre
The College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredits our clinical laboratories
SafeCare accredits our off-campus hospitals
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Care Beyond Pakistan
Our work doesn’t stop at the border. Through sister Aga Khan University hospitals in Kenya and Afghanistan, and alongside Aga Khan Health Services hospitals across Asia and Africa, we contribute to strengthening healthcare systems in diverse settings.
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