Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday expressed the federal government’s strong commitment to making the country free of Hepatitis-C within the next three to four years, describing it as a noble cause and national mission.
“Can a country like Pakistan, which developed its nuclear program indigenously despite the opposition of the entire world, not rid itself of Hepatitis-C in collaboration with world? [Definitely], it is achievable with a focused approach and strong belief in this noble cause,” he said while addressing an event titled “Vision for a Hepatitis-Free Future: Current Challenges and Future Roadmap.”
The minister said the federal government had launched the Hepatitis-free program with an allocation of Rs 67 billion, with 51 percent of the funding provided by the center and 49 percent by the provinces.
