PM pledges Rs6.8bn for diabetes programme on World Diabetes Day

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government has allocated Rs6.8 billion to the Prime Minister's Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes Mellitus, in a message issued on Friday for World Diabetes Day, observed on Saturday, 14 November.

The money will widen screening coverage for early detection, strengthen primary healthcare services and improve access to diagnosis and treatment, the prime minister said. The programme also covers healthy lifestyles, public awareness and coordination between the federal and provincial governments.

Sharif said diabetes had become a serious public health concern in Pakistan and called for early screening and timely diagnosis. He asked people to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, have routine medical check-ups and consult qualified doctors on time. He said curbing the disease required sustained investment in healthcare and effective policies.

This year's theme is "Early Action on Diabetes".

In a separate message, President Asif Ali Zardari asked Pakistanis to make prevention, healthy living and early diagnosis a national priority. Citing the latest International Diabetes Federation estimates, he said 34.5 million adults in Pakistan were living with diabetes in 2024 and more than one-quarter of them were undiagnosed, according to the Daily Times report of his message.

Zardari said many cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with a balanced diet, regular physical activity, a healthy weight and by avoiding tobacco. He asked citizens to cut sugary drinks and foods high in sugar and unhealthy fats, and to make walking, exercise and sport part of daily life.

Families and schools have a special responsibility to encourage healthy habits from childhood, he said. He asked federal and provincial governments, doctors, educational institutions, the media and civil society to run awareness campaigns through the year in Urdu and regional languages, with simple guidance on prevention, warning signs and where to seek screening.

The president said the effort should reach Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with particular attention to women, older people, low-income families and rural and remote communities. Lady Health Workers, basic health units and community organisations can bring reliable information and screening closer to people's homes, he said.

Zardari said early diagnosis must be followed by affordable treatment and continuing care. He called for policies that support nutritious and affordable food, healthier school meals, safe drinking water and accessible places for walking and recreation, particularly for women and children.