Long Read

Peshawar's Hospitals Through the Eyes of a Vintage Clothes Picker Who’s Seen Too Much

@Ruby Wilder2/8/2026blog
Peshawar's Hospitals Through the Eyes of a Vintage Clothes Picker Who’s Seen Too Much

look, i didn’t come to peshawar for the healthcare. i came to dig through dust-covered trunks of embroidered shawls and haggle over moth-eaten waistcoats in the *Kochi Bazaar. but life’s funny-turns out, when you’re hauling sacks of fabric under a sun that feels like a rusty iron, you end up learning a lot about local hospitals. the kind of intel you won’t find on glossy brochures.

a large white building with a lot of windows


the air here? thick enough to chew, like breathing through a wool blanket left in a basement. but hey, at least
Islamabad’s just a 2-hour drive if you need to bolt for cooler vibes. anyway, let’s talk stitches and stethoscopes.

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"lady reading hospital? bring a book. and a lunchbox. you’ll be there till next tuesday." - overheard from a rickshaw driver chain-smoking outside a chai stall.

but here’s the tea:
Lady Reading Hospital handles 30,000 emergencies a month according to some local news. that’s wild. meanwhile, Khyber Teaching Hospital’s got a rep for surgeons who’ll fix your broken leg while arguing about cricket scores. rent near the hospitals? around 15k PKR/month for a room that smells like turmeric and regret.

a city street filled with lots of traffic


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"if you go to rehman medical institute, wear your fancy clothes. they judge." - a tailor who hemmed my pants while gossiping about his aunt’s gallbladder saga.

yeah, safety’s a thing here. keep your phone tucked deep when wandering near
Saddar Bazaar* after dark. jobs? if you’re not hustling in textiles or smuggling vintage leather jackets, maybe try this sketchy job board.


final verdict? peshawar’s hospitals are like its old carpets: frayed at the edges but weirdly resilient. need more proof? check this chaotic Reddit thread or this weirdly poetic Yelp review of a guy who got his appendix out while listening to Sufi rock. stay curious, stay vaccinated.


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About the author: Ruby Wilder

Unapologetically enthusiastic about niche topics.

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