ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday re-launched the state-run health insurance programme, the Sehat Card, in the federal capital, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). At the launch event, Sharif emphasised that access to healthcare is a fundamental right for every citizen. “Such facilities should be delivered to their doorsteps,” he added. The programme, first introduced in 2016 by then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, aims to provide free healthcare services to the public. PM Sharif noted that this initiative marks a revival of the original scheme, which was previously available in Punjab, Balochistan, the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). In his address, Sharif highlighted the importance of health, saying, “Nothing is more precious in life than health… it is needed to pursue education, earn a living, and even to defeat the opposition.” He also lauded his brother, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, for his “transformative” contributions to the health sector, while expressing unwavering confidence in the programme’s promising future under his leadership. Sharif further discussed the potential expansion of the programme, mentioning that he would approach the Chief Minister of Sindh to explore its introduction in the province. “In Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the programme is running successfully,” he said. “I am confident that the Chief Minister of Sindh is committed to health and education, and I will discuss the matter with him.” Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, also speaking at the event, thanked the prime minister for his efforts in reviving the programme. He confirmed that the Sehat Card would now cover nearly 10 million people in Islamabad, AJK, and GB, offering free health services at participating hospitals. He added that 70 additional hospitals would be added to the network in these regions, with 16 hospitals in Karachi also included for Sehat Card holders from these areas. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026