The federal government has decided to restore the Sehat Sahulat health card facility for more than 10 million residents of Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The National Steering Committee of the Sehat Sahulat Programme, chaired by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, approved a revised PC-I with an estimated cost of Rs. 40 billion.
The approval clears the way for the resumption of services from January 16. The revised PC-I will remain in effect until June 30, 2027. The committee meeting included Health Secretary Hamid Yaqoob, Special Secretary Health, Sehat Sahulat Programme CEO Arshad Khan, and other committee members.
The forum reviewed progress on restoring Universal Health Coverage services for all permanent resident families in the Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. CEO Arshad Khan shared the prime minister’s directions for the immediate restoration of services.
The committee also approved extending existing contracts with State Life Insurance Corporation and NADRA through addenda to ensure uninterrupted operations. Authorities will clear outstanding liabilities through the Public Sector Development Programme in line with the prime minister’s instructions.
Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said the country must rely on modern health insurance and strategic purchasing models instead of directly managing hospital services to improve efficiency and quality of care. He confirmed that the prime minister will formally launch the restored facility on January 16.
The government had suspended the health card service in March 2024 due to unpaid dues, affecting residents of Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, while the facility continued in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.