The Hospital was incorporated on September 20, 1987 as a Private Limited Company and converted into Public Limited Company on October 12, 1989. The first Shifa office was established at the residence of Dr. Zaheer Ahmad in sector F-8/3 of Islamabad. Later it was moved to a rental place in Blue Area (commercial buildings area in Islamabad), and finally the site office building was established in January 1988.

The construction activity to prepare the site for laying the foundation of the Hospital was started in the beginning of 1988. The foundation ceremony took place on October 06, 1989 by the parents and well-wishers of the sponsors and their dedicated team of colleagues and well- wishers. Within three years and six months, the hospital’s Block-A structure of 65 ft. high with 70,000 square feet covered area.

The idea of developing a high class medical facility in Pakistan was conceived in New York, USA in the mid of 1985. The initiator Dr. Zaheer Ahmad, who had just finished his Internal Medicine Residency, called a meeting at his apartment in Brooklyn, New York on the weekend of July 20 & 21. Five professionals gathered there and discussed the idea in detail and approved it. The participants included Dr. Manzoor H. Qazi from Leesville, Louisiana, Mr. Muhammad Zahid from Kew Gardens, New York, Mr. Samiulla Sharief from Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Sabir Ali from Palm Bay, Florida besides the host. Dr. Zaheer Ahmad was asked to prepare the feasibility report and the action plan. Subsequently Dr. Zaheer Ahmad moved to Islamabad on December 17, 1985 to start the work on this project.

After extensive discussions and many meetings, the present site in the capital city of Islamabad was selected for this project. The name "SHIFA" was approved because of its comprehensiveness, originating from our culture, belief and values in totality.

After acquiring over 11 acres of land in Islamabad in 1987, CRI, a hospital development company in Princeton, New Jersey was hired to develop the plan and design of the project. Mr. William Parker, Chief Architect of CRI headed the team, visited the site in Islamabad besides visiting the other hospitals across Pakistan. CRI finished its job in 1989.

The hospital’s team (founders and sponsors) kept expanding from all across the globe. By the time of its opening on June 26, 1993, it had crossed 400 plus sponsors, with a Rupee 500 million equity. Till this time the Hospital has not borrowed a single rupee from any other source.

Within three and half years, the Hospital's Block-A with a five storey structure, plus deck slab area and a mosque with a total 100,000 square feet covered area was ready to take its first patient on June 26, 1993. Medical equipment were installed in the areas of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Laboratories, Operating Rooms, Dialysis and ICU/CCU. The building was fully equipped with all modern means i.e. central air conditioning, central gas supply systems, fire-alarm system, 750 KVA standby generator etc.

The humble start of June 26, 1993, with eight consultants in seven specialties, has progressed to more than 70 highly qualified consultants in almost all specialties under one roof. Shifa International Hospital offers 150 IPD beds with quality care and OPD facility in 35 different specializations. Nevertheless it is an unending journey. People at Shifa are continuously striving hard to bring improvement and novelty with every passing moment.

Now after more than one and a half decade Shifa International Hospital proudly stands as a symbol of quality healthcare with its own brand name "SHIFA". The short history of Shifa witnessed rare dedication and devotion of its consultants, management and staff who worked round the clock to make Shifa a reality of its own.

It was the vision of the founding Sponsors which took its shape into reality. The task was made possible only with the help of their dedicated team of experts and managers under the quality-oriented and inspiring leadership.

Today, the hospital’s Block-A along with Block-B and partially constructed Block-C and Block-G sprawled on its site is efficiently functioning with already finished covered area of 315000 square feet. Last but not the least, as well as first and the foremost, is the grace of Allah which has made it feasible and viable for us to carry out such a gigantic and enormous venture. Unique in its concept and efforts by the expatriate Pakistanis to repay back their homeland with a beautiful gift and a functional institution in the healthcare industry of Pakistan.