Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hands a symbolic health card to a woman. Photo: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday revived and expanded the Prime Minister’s Health Card program to Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare as a fundamental right to all citizens, regardless of their social or economic status.
At the launch ceremony, the Prime Minister said the initiative marked another important step towards delivering healthcare facilities to people’s doorsteps.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recalled that the health card scheme was first introduced in 2016 under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and then rapidly expanded across all provinces.
He said there was nothing more valuable in life than health. “If there is health, there is education; if there is health, there is decent employment; if there is health, there is progress in all fields of life,” he remarked.
The prime minister said the rich segments of society could afford expensive treatment anywhere in the world, but the real test of the state lay in protecting the poor, widows, orphans and daily wage earners struggling to make ends meet.
“If a worker falls ill and leaves this world without treatment, his children are left in permanent darkness. Health care is the right of every Pakistani, whether he is a prime minister or a street vendor,” he said.
The Prime Minister congratulated Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Health Secretary and his entire team on the launch, urging them to ensure transparent implementation through third-party monitoring so that the treatment is provided at the right facilities and to the right standards. He expressed confidence that the honest execution of the program would not only benefit the people but also bring rewards both in this world and the hereafter.
Expressing hope that the plan will be implemented quickly and effectively, he said that the program will be personally monitored through visits and inspections in collaboration with Islamabad health leaders, parliamentarians, Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan and Prime Minister of AJK.
Responding to a demand for extension of the program to Sindh, he stated that the proposal was valid and assured that he would personally take up the matter with the Sindh Chief Minister. He noted that the program was already advancing rapidly in Punjab, with billions of rupees spent on healthcare, and congratulated the Punjab government for its efforts. He added that while other provinces had their own health initiatives, efforts would be made to ensure similar facilities were available across the country.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s Health Card scheme would gain momentum across the country, providing relief to millions of families. “May Allah help us serve the people,” he said, ending with prayers for the success of the initiative and the prosperity of Pakistan.
Prime Minister reaffirms his determination to crush terrorism
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s firm resolve to defeat terrorism through a unified national effort and stressed that peace, stability and prosperity remained the country’s fundamental objectives.
Chairing a meeting of the Qaumi Paigham-e-Aman Committee (QPAC) here, the prime minister said the committee would play a pivotal role in strengthening the national narrative against extremism and terrorism, similar to the historical role played by the Ulema in the creation of Pakistan.
He recalled that Pakistan was created to implement the principles of peace, justice and tolerance, adding that the country is now steadily moving towards prosperity and stability.
The prime minister said Almighty Allah had blessed Pakistan with vast natural resources worth trillions of dollars which, if effectively explored, could help overcome challenges such as poverty, unemployment and debts. “This task is difficult but not impossible,” he said, underscoring the need for a collective resolution.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan had demonstrated its strength in May 2025 during Maareka-e-Haq when it decisively defeated India, saying that this happened due to the blessings of Allah Almighty and the professional capabilities of the armed forces under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir. He said Pakistan was now on a fast track to development but terrorism remained the most serious challenge.
The prime minister claimed that more than 100,000 Pakistanis had embraced martyrdom in the war against terrorism. He said the international community should recognize Pakistan’s immense sacrifices and said the country possessed strong evidence that external support was being provided to terrorist elements in Pakistan.
He expressed confidence that Pakistan would once again defeat terrorism. He also underlined the positive role of minorities in national development and called for inter-religious harmony to ensure lasting peace.
