DUBAI: Bahria Town Karachi, which is Asia’s largest private real estate developer and Bait Al Batterjee Medical Company (BAB), a MENA market leader in healthcare facilities have signed a historic collaboration agreement in Dubai that would revolutionise the standards of healthcare in Pakistan. The BAB is founder of the Saudi German hospitals, the leading healthcare brand in the region. Under the collaboration agreement, the parties will work together to sign binding definitive agreements at the earliest, which will cover BAB building new state-of-the-art hospitals in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, according to a time schedule to be agreed by both the parties. The arrangements will be sought with the Middle East Healthcare Company, a subsidiary of BAB, to operate the hospitals under the Saudi German hospital Group (SGHG). The BAB will also take over the upcoming new hospital of Bahria Town in Karachi and Lahore as an operator. Bait AL Batterjee Medical Company President Sobhi Batterjee and Bahria Town Chairman Riaz Malik signed the collaboration agreement setting the framework for negotiations on the definitive agreements. This agreement would pave the way to establish world-class healthcare facilities in Pakistan, which will be second to none in the world. Saudi German Hospital will not only build state-of-the-art 150 to 300 bed hospitals in each city of Bahria Town including Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad but also operate the current upcoming Bahria Town hospitals in Karachi and Bahria Orchard Lahore with the possibility of taking over other operations of Bahria town hospitals as well. On the occasion, Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz Hussain said, “Saudi German hospital will be provided with 12 acres of land each in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad for the construction of new hospitals. The world-class laboratories would also be created in all places where Bahria Town is present in Pakistan. The vision of Bahria Town and promise for its nation includes high quality healthcare services and amenities. Bahria Town intends to implement this vision through establishment and operations of high quality hospitals and healthcare facilities in collaboration with BAB and Saudi German Hospital Group. Malik Riaz said that this collaboration will not only provide the required treatment to those in need but would also help establish health sector by providing training and setting an example for the rest. He said, “It is my wish that I leave my legacy as a welfare tycoon rather than a real estate developer. God has blessed me with a lot and it has been my dream to share my blessings with the less fortunate and help them as much as I can. Bahria Town will also provide free medical treatment to the poor in all these hospitals. We have given the construction industry of Pakistan a new name and brand in the form of Bahria Town. With its world-class facilities, luxuries and amenities, Bahria Town has become a symbol of pride for Pakistan. With the grace and help of the Almighty Allah, we have done a lot of construction work in Pakistan, created thousands of jobs, provided living for millions, changed the living standards for people, made universities, established Bahria Dastarkhwan on a massive scale and constructed mosques, which are amongst the world’s most grand and largest mosques.” MEAHCO is a subsidiary of BAB and operates hospitals under the brand name of Saudi German hospitals, the largest healthcare provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Its network of state-of-the-art private hospitals in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Yemen are highly reputable and recognised. BAB President Sobhi Batterjee said, “We are proud to have partnered with Bahria Town on extending the same medical facilities and expertise, that our patients experience in KSA, UAE or elsewhere, to the people of Pakistan. We will invest more than $300 million on these projects. We had always wanted to enter Pakistani market because the social need for more corporate healthcare players to provide quality healthcare to the people of Pakistan. The world-class healthcare facilities, multi specialty procedures and treatments will also be provided through its modern medical technology, experienced and qualified medical and healthcare staff at our hospitals in Bahria Town Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. Prior to this pioneering agreement, their team had visited all locations of Bahria Town and praised the infrastructure and service facilities of Bahria Town, which are second to none in the world.” Batterjee also appreciated the hard work of Khurram Haris, Adviser to SGH President for Pakistan Business who played an instrumental role to bring SGH to Pakistan. Bahria Town chairman Malik Riaz said that in view of the common goal and vision of both the parties, we are very keen to work together with BAB for the purpose of establishing high quality healthcare facilities and hospitals in Bahria Town Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, for the benefit of both the residents of Bahria Town as well as other citizens of Pakistan. He said the new hospitals would be the most modern and advanced hospitals in the country. Along with this, Bahria Town is also working with London’s Harley Street, “Hadef & Partners, Dubai’s counsel for BAB, Cornelius, Lane & Mufti, Pakistan’s counsel for Bahria Town and Riaz Ahmad & Co. Pakistan’s financial advisers to Bahria Town are advising the parties on this transaction” to create state-of-the-art spinal surgery hospitals in Pakistan. These hospitals are being constructed in Bahria Golf City Islamabad, Bahria Enclave Islamabad and Bahria Orchard Lahore with the cost of Rs 800 million already invested and further investment to follow. Because of this, facilities that patients spends millions to go to Britain will now be available to everyone in Pakistan and no one will have to go to US and Europe for treatment.