Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday formally reintroduced the state-run health insurance initiative, widely known as the Sehat Card Programme, in the federal capital, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, restoring access to subsidised healthcare for thousands of families.
Addressing the launch ceremony in Islamabad, the prime minister said access to quality healthcare was a fundamental right of every citizen and stressed that essential health services must be made easily accessible. He said the revival of the Sehat Card reflected his government’s commitment to public welfare and social protection.
“This is another step taken with speed to serve the people,” PM Shehbaz said, adding that the programme was a continuation of the welfare vision first introduced by his party leadership.
He recalled that the Sehat Card scheme was originally launched in 2016 under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, when the PML-N was in government. At that time, the programme covered residents of Punjab, Balochistan, the then Federally Administered Tribal Areas—now part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—and the Islamabad Capital Territory, with plans for gradual expansion.
The prime minister noted that the initiative was later reintroduced in 2019 by the PTI-led government under the name Sehat Insaf Card, with modifications including expanded financial coverage for medical treatment and broader eligibility criteria.
Emphasising the importance of healthcare, PM Shehbaz said good health was essential for education, employment, sports and overall productivity. He added that the services initiated by Nawaz Sharif in the health sector would continue to be strengthened and expanded.
“Today, the Sehat Card is being issued for Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the people of Gilgit-Baltistan,” the prime minister said, describing the move as a step towards inclusive and equitable healthcare across the country.