ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended its flagship Health Card Programme for residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan until the end of the 2026–27 fiscal year, reaffirming its commitment to public welfare in some of the country’s most remote regions.
Under the programme, enrolled households are covered for a wide range of treatments, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for low-income families and easing pressure on regional health budgets. Authorities say this will help ensure uninterrupted care for vulnerable communities while stabilising provincial healthcare financing.
The decision was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and will allow eligible families to continue receiving free medical treatment at both public and private hospitals under the state-funded insurance scheme.
Government officials said the extension is designed to address longstanding gaps in healthcare access across the mountainous northern territories, where rugged terrain, sparse infrastructure and harsh weather conditions have historically limited medical services.
The move comes as Pakistan grapples with economic constraints and seeks to protect social spending amid fiscal reforms. Despite these challenges, the federal government has framed the continuation of the health card scheme as a core element of its broader social protection strategy.
By extending coverage in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad aims to reinforce its administrative and social linkages with the regions, presenting access to quality healthcare as a fundamental right rather than a privilege.
