Charity hopes to save lives in Pakistan with new children’s operating theatre

A Scottish charity has opened a new children’s operating theatre in Pakistan which will carry out thousands of procedures each year.

The facility at the District Headquarter Hospital in Kotli was delivered by Kids Operating Room.

The charity uses a hub in Dundee to assemble medical equipment for paediatric facilities in countries experiencing humanitarian crises.

It is hoped that more than 2,000 operations will take place each year, with the theatre serving a population with more than 400,000 children in Pakistani-administered Azad Kashmir.

Dr Tahir Mehmood, a GP at the Blenheim Medical Centre who is originally from the Kotli region, was a driving force behind the project.

He said the facility would save lives by cutting down on response times.

Dr Mehmood said: “This project was very close to my heart. I always wanted to do something meaningful for the community I came from.

“This facility will not only save lives but also reduce the financial burden on parents. Children can now receive specialist care close to home, in a safe and modern environment.”

He added: “Children who receive treatment can go on to live full lives, supporting their families and contributing to their communities. This shows what can be achieved when investment is focused where it is needed most.

“Once their conditions are treated, these children can laugh, play and dream like any other child. They can grow into valuable members of their communities.

“There has long been an urgent need for a facility like this. A 15-year-old boy ruptured a major artery in his leg.

“He was sent four hours away for treatment and died on the way. If this theatre had existed, his life could have been saved.”

The operating theatre in Kotli is one of over 115 paediatric operating rooms installed by the Dundee-based charity across 36 countries.

Last year Kida Operating Room installed six operating theatres in Ukraine, which can function independently of the power grid due to problems with blackouts in the ongoing war with Russia.

The charity also plans to install facilities in the West Bank.

Published: 20/07/2026 by Radio NewsHub