KEY POINTS
- The funds were secured by reallocating Rs. 280 million in savings from various government departments, not through new taxes or borrowing.
- The move, prioritised by the Caretaker Chief Minister, aims to prevent any disruption to life-saving and critical treatments for vulnerable citizens.
- Officials state the allocation strengthens the public healthcare safety net through responsible fiscal management without burdening public finances.
GILGIT: In a move to safeguard healthcare for its vulnerable citizens, the government in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region has secured and released Rs. 125.77 million for the Chief Minister’s Health Endowment Fund.
The allocation, aimed at providing uninterrupted medical treatment to underprivileged patients, will remain available until June 2026.
The allocation follows the direct intervention of Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (R) Yar Muhammad Khan, who prioritised the continuation of critical medical aid. The financing was achieved through stringent fiscal management rather than new taxation or borrowing.
Strategic fiscal reallocation secures funds
According to an official notification from the GB Finance Department, the government approved the surrender of savings worth Rs. 280.026 million from various subheads across different departments for the current financial year (2025-26).
These consolidated savings were then reallocated, with Rs. 125.77 million specifically directed to the Health Department under the “non-financial institutions” head.
“This step reflects our commitment to strengthening the public healthcare safety net,” a senior official stated. “By rationalising the budget and cutting non-essential expenditures, we have secured these vital funds without placing an additional burden on public finances.”
Ensuring uninterrupted critical care
The primary objective of the release is to ensure that patients, especially those undergoing life-saving and critical treatments, do not face disruptions due to financial constraints. The decision comes amid public concerns regarding the continuity of the Endowment Fund’s support.
Officials have clarified that all medical treatments covered under the scheme will now continue without interruption. The Health Department has been instructed to complete the necessary formalities to operationalise the funds immediately.
“The Health Endowment Fund is a lifeline for thousands of poor and deserving patients across our region,” a health department spokesperson said. “This financial injection reaffirms the government’s pledge to prioritise healthcare access and quality medical treatment for all, even amidst fiscal discipline.”
The move has been widely welcomed as a direct and impactful public welfare measure, demonstrating how targeted fiscal adjustments can deliver tangible benefits to society’s most needy segments.
