ISLAMABAD: The federal government has announced the resumption of the health card scheme for over 10 million residents in Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
The renewed scheme is scheduled to commence on January 16, 2026, and will continue until June 30, 2027. The government emphasized that the health card is a vital initiative aimed at public welfare. The decision has been met with widespread approval and joy among the public, who regard it as a significant step toward accessible healthcare.
Previously, a PC-1 proposal valued at Rs40 billion was approved by the National Steering Committee of the Sehat Sahulat Programme (SSP), chaired by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal. The committee confirmed that services under the scheme would restart from January 16.
The meeting, attended by Health Secretary Hamid Yaqoob, Special Secretary of Health, SSP CEO Arshad Khan, and other members, reviewed progress on restoring and expanding Universal Health Coverage (UHC) services to all eligible families in ICT, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Arshad Khan shared the Prime Minister’s directives for the immediate reinstatement of these services.
The committee approved the revised PC-I, with an estimated cost of around Rs40 billion, covering the period through June 30, 2027. The scheme will offer free hospitalization services to all permanent resident families of ICT, AJK, and GB, under the UHC framework of the Federal Sehat Sahulat Programme.
Additionally, it was decided to renew existing agreements with State Life Insurance Corporation and NADRA through addenda to ensure the continuity of services. Outstanding liabilities will be cleared from the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), following the Prime Minister’s instructions.
It is noteworthy that the health card initiative was originally launched by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on December 31, 2015.
