Islamabad: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has underlined the urgency of a unified and comprehensive national approach to tackle the alarming rise in diabetes cases across Pakistan. He was chairing the second meeting of the Steering Committee for Prime Minister’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Program in Islamabad Tuesday.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Minister emphasized that the five-year program is designed to raise awareness and provide preventive care to 33 million Pakistanis. The initiative is set to cost an estimated 6.8 million dollars. The program aims to educate, screen, and treat millions across the country through a coordinated effort that involves both federal and provincial stakeholders.

Ahsan Iqbal stressed the importance of collaboration among provincial and federal governments under a national action plan to deliver results that match the scale of the crisis. On the occasion, the Ministry of Health briefed the committee about a newly launched nationwide media campaign focusing on awareness, prevention, control, and treatment of diabetes.

The campaign includes training for frontline health workers, development of a national diabetes registry, and partnerships with universities for research and outreach.