Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday announced the launch of the country’s first dedicated facility for free breast cancer screening at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
Speaking at an event marking Breast Cancer Week in Islamabad, the minister said the new screening centre has been inaugurated to enable early detection, which he described as the most critical step in fighting the disease.
“We do not want women to fall ill first and then come to hospitals,” he said. “This centre will help detect the disease before it develops.”
Kamal stressed that awareness is the strongest defence against breast cancer. “The war against breast cancer is won with awareness. We must protect our mothers, sisters, and daughters from this deadly disease,” he told the audience.
Addressing healthcare workers, he said those who serve humanity in pain receive great reward. The minister also hinted at expanding such services beyond the capital, saying breast cancer screening centres should be established at the district level for wider access.
He urged women and young girls to undergo screening as a preventive measure. Officials expect the new facility to improve early diagnosis and reduce fatalities associated with breast cancer across the country.
