In a move that marks a major leap forward for Afghanistan’s healthcare infrastructure, the Minister of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, during an official visit to Herat, broke ground on a 400-bed state-of-the-art children’s hospital.
The project is being funded by prominent Afghan entrepreneur Haji Abdul Zahir Bashari, who has stepped in to bridge critical healthcare gaps in the region.
A ceremonial gathering was held to mark the occasion, drawing a host of high-profile attendees, including Herat Governor Sheikh Noor Ahmad Islam Jar, tribal elders, senior government officials, and scores of local residents.
The event was seen as a symbol of unity and progress, with many hailing it as a turning point for public health in western Afghanistan.
Speaking at the event, the Health Minister heaped praise on the people of Herat for their continued role in rebuilding the nation, describing them as cultivated, courageous, and well-informed.
He stressed that Herat is ripe for investment, and pointed to the benevolent leadership of Amir al-Mu’minin (may Allah protect him), whose empathetic vision seeks to alleviate the nation’s hardships and tend to its wounds.
The Minister also underlined Herat’s historic and strategic importance, commending Haji Boshari’s visionary initiative. “May the Almighty reward this bold step in the health sector,” he said. “We hope this sets the tone for other Afghan businessmen to follow suit and roll out similar large-scale humanitarian projects,” he added.
He went on to say, “We are pushing hard to ensure that healthcare services are up to par and accessible to all. Since this generous entrepreneur has taken the lead, the ministry will go the extra mile to offer full technical and logistical support—so that ordinary citizens can truly reap the benefits.”
For his part, Herat’s governor emphasized the pressing need to boost health services in the province. He noted that his office would work tirelessly to draw the attention of other investors and urge Afghan businessmen to channel their resources into this underserved sector.
Wrapping up the event, Haji Abdul Zahir Bashari pledged that the construction of the hospital would be carried out with utmost precision and quality, vowing to fast-track the building process so that Herat’s residents could soon see the fruits of this much-needed development.