Faisalabad, 26-Jan-2026 (PPI): The federal government has increased the national medical budget for Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) to Rs 3 billion and raised the financial assistance for major surgeries to Rs 1.5 million per patient, a senior minister announced on Monday.
Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, disclosed the new measures during a media address, stating they are part of the government"s "historic steps" to serve suffering humanity and expand quality healthcare access for vulnerable segments of society.
Speaking during a visit to Allied Hospital-I, the minister identified the institution as Punjab’s third-largest healthcare facility, serving thousands of individuals daily from Faisalabad and its surrounding districts. He noted the hospital"s 45 functional operation theatres as a reflection of its capacity to provide large-scale modern treatments.
Minister Shah expressed satisfaction with the Punjab government’s healthcare reforms, asserting that positive results are now visible. He reported that over the past three years, more than Rs 100 million in grants were provided to Allied Hospital, enabling medical care for 482 deserving patients.
He detailed the growing public trust in state-run welfare, sharing that the number of patients assisted through PBM at the hospital rose from 131 in the 2023–24 fiscal year to nearly 200 at present. In the current 2025-2026 period alone, 228 patients have received treatment valued at Rs 45 million.
Citing historical figures, the minister revealed that from 2008 to 2025, approximately 5,000 patients suffering from cancer, cardiac diseases, and other complex illnesses received treatment at Allied Hospital via PBM.
He attributed these initiatives to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision, adding that the overall PBM medical budget was raised from Rs 2.25 billion to Rs 3 billion. The minister emphasised that transparency and merit are being strictly ensured in the delivery of aid.
While acknowledging that health and education are provincial subjects, Minister Shah affirmed that the federal government continues to support the provinces through resources and facilitation.
The minister also highlighted other public relief measures, including the lifting of a ban on new gas connections and efforts to reduce gas and electricity load-shedding for industrial and domestic consumers. He concluded that the federal government is pursuing development projects across all provinces to improve living standards and strengthen socio-economic growth.