PTI slams AJK govt’s health package

MUZAFFARABAD: PTI AJK Vice President Syed Zeeshan Haider Kazmi on Sunday criticised the health package recently announced by the AJK government, denouncing it as a superficial scheme intended to serve political ends rather than the healthcare needs of the public.

According to him, the so-called “health package” is a thinly veiled attempt to use public funds to secure political loyalty by appointing favored individuals to newly created positions, all under the pretense of healthcare improvement. “The government’s so-called health package is a betrayal of the people of AJK. It’s not a health initiative-it’s a political maneuver designed to reward loyalists and buy support for the upcoming election,” the PTI AJK vice president said.

He said that rather than genuinely addressing healthcare needs, the government is upgrading select facilities based purely on political considerations, leaving actual healthcare requirements unaddressed.

Zeeshan pointed to the success of the health insurance card system introduced by former prime minister Imran Khan, which provided free and comprehensive healthcare coverage to every citizen in AJK. The health insurance card, which covered medical expenses up to Rs1 million in top private hospitals nationwide, proved a lifeline for countless families during its four-year tenure before it was discontinued by the PMLN government under Shahbaz Sharif, he said.

“Imran Khan’s health insurance card was the best healthcare solution for AJK residents, offering extensive coverage without political discrimination. The government only had to pay a nominal Rs4,000 per household to an insurance provider, ensuring full medical coverage for an entire year. This was a true public service that benefited everyone equally,” Zeeshan said.

PTI AJK has been vocal about its dissatisfaction with the current government’s approach to healthcare, calling the new package a “colossal misuse” of funds and an “insult to the people’s intelligence”. Zeeshan Haider and other PTI leaders argue that, rather than creating politically motivated jobs and select facility upgrades, the funds should be redirected to reinstate the health insurance card system, which provided genuine, equitable access to quality healthcare for all citizens.

PTI AJK has announced its intention to oppose the health package on multiple fronts, including filing a legal challenge to hold the government accountable. Zeeshan said that the PTI AJK would also organise a public movement to rally citizens against what he termed “professional dishonesty” on the part of the AJK government.

“We outright reject this so-called health package. The people of AJK deserve universal health coverage, not empty promises and politically motivated schemes. We demand that these funds be reallocated to reinstate the health insurance card, guaranteeing comprehensive healthcare access for every citizen. PTI AJK will not rest until this unjust package is withdrawn and a fair healthcare solution is restored,” he said.