ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday called for a comprehensive national strategy to prevent diabetes, stressing that greater emphasis must be placed on prevention alongside treatment to address the growing public health challenge.
During a meeting with a delegation of international and Pakistani medical experts specialising in diabetes care, the prime minister directed the relevant institutions to develop a coordinated and practical plan aligned with national priorities.
He emphasised the need to promote healthy lifestyles, particularly among young people and students at colleges and universities, through greater awareness of balanced diets, regular physical activity and healthy daily routines.
He also called for a nationwide public awareness campaign using television, radio, digital platforms and other media to disseminate information about diabetes prevention, early diagnosis and healthy living.
He said a clear policy framework and effective planning were essential to tackling the growing prevalence of diabetes, adding that relevant institutions should adopt an integrated approach encompassing research, public awareness and preventive measures.
Highlighting the importance of international cooperation, Sharif said Pakistan should benefit from global research, international experience and best practices to strengthen its efforts to prevent the disease. He also stressed the need to promote regional and international collaboration to address the challenge more effectively.
The delegation, led by Dr Syed Abbas Raza, president of the International Society of Endocrinology, included medical experts from several countries and is visiting Pakistan to attend an endocrinology seminar.
The visiting experts appreciated Pakistan’s recent initiatives and policy implementation efforts aimed at preventing diabetes and other diseases. They also expressed their commitment to supporting diabetes prevention initiatives and public awareness campaigns in the country.
The delegation noted the significant contribution of Pakistani medical professionals to the treatment and prevention of diabetes and other diseases worldwide.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Bharath, and senior officials from relevant institutions also attended the meeting.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026