Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presents a symbolic health card to a woman. Photo: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday revived and extended 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 every citizen, regardless of social or economic status.
Addressing the launch ceremony, the Prime Minister said the initiative marked another major step towards providing healthcare facilities at 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 later expanded rapidly across provinces.
He said that 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 areas of life,” he noted.
The Prime Minister said that wealthy sections of the society could afford expensive treatment anywhere in the world, but the true 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 every Pakistani’s right, whether he is a prime minister or a street vendor,” he said.
The Prime Minister congratulated Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, the Minister of Health and their entire team for the launch and urged them to ensure transparent implementation through third-party monitoring so that treatment is provided at the right facilities and with the right standards. He expressed confidence that honest execution of the program would not only serve the people but also earn rewards in both this world and the hereafter.
Expressing hope that the scheme would be implemented quickly and effectively, he said the program would be personally monitored through visits and inspections in collaboration with Islamabad’s health leadership, parliamentarians, the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan and the Prime Minister of AJK.
Responding to a demand to extend the program to Sindh, he said the proposal was valid and assured that he would personally take up the matter with the Chief Minister of Sindh. Noting that the program was already developing rapidly in Punjab, where billions of rupees were spent on health care, he congratulated the Punjab government on its efforts. He added that while other provinces had their own health initiatives, efforts would be made to ensure that similar facilities were made available across the country.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s Health Card Scheme would take off across the country and bring relief to millions of families. “May Allah help us to serve the people,” he said, concluding with prayers for the success of the initiative and the prosperity of Pakistan.
Prime Minister reaffirms 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 core 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 was now steadily moving towards prosperity and stability.
The Prime Minister said that Almighty Allah had blessed Pakistan with vast natural resources worth trillions of dollars which, if explored effectively, could help overcome challenges like poverty, unemployment and debt. “This task is difficult but not impossible,” he noted, stressing the need for collective determination.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan had demonstrated its strength in May 2025 during Maareka-e-Haq when it decisively defeated India and said this happened because of the blessings of Allah Almighty and the professional skills of the armed forces under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir. He said that Pakistan is now on fast track towards development but terrorism remains the most serious challenge.
The Prime Minister stated that over 100,000 Pakistanis had embraced martyrdom in the war against terrorism. He said the international community should recognize Pakistan’s huge sacrifices and said the country possessed solid evidence of external support being extended to the terrorist elements in Pakistan.
He expressed confidence that Pakistan would once again defeat terrorism. He also emphasized the positive role of minorities in national development and called for inter-religious harmony to ensure lasting peace.
