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MULTAN, Feb 02 (APP): Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmed Shah said on Monday the government is strengthening social protection and healthcare support through increased funding and digital reforms to ensure transparent and timely assistance to deserving citizens.
Speaking to the media during his visit to Nishtar Hospital Multan, he said the visit was carried out on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review healthcare facilities and welfare initiatives aimed at serving underprivileged patients.
The minister said Nishtar Hospital is one of Pakistan’s largest healthcare institutions, catering not only to South Punjab but also to patients from Sindh and Balochistan.
He added Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) is playing an active role in supporting patients requiring costly medical treatment.
He said the PBM budget has been enhanced from Rs10 billion to Rs14 billion, while medical grants have been increased to over Rs3 billion. The treatment ceiling per patient has also been raised from Rs1 million to Rs1.5 million to facilitate patients suffering from serious illnesses.
Syed Imran Ahmed Shah stated that by January 2026, around 4,000 patients had been treated at Nishtar Hospital under PBM at a cost of Rs620 million, while over 600 patients have so far received free treatment at the hospital under the programme.
Referring to governance reforms, he said a digital wallet system has been introduced under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
He said 60 percent of payments have already been made digitally and by March, all payments will be processed through the digital system, reducing corruption and public inconvenience.
He said Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal is also working to equip citizens with skills to make them productive members of society and reiterated that the government remains committed to poverty reduction and protection of citizens’ rights.