Punjab to strengthen mental healthcare

Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique on Saturday said the provincial government was working to strengthen mental healthcare services under the proposed Mental Health Policy Framework 2026-2035, stressing the importance of counselling in treatment and rehabilitation. He was speaking as the chief guest at a provincial consultative meeting on the Mental Health Policy Framework 2026-2035 held at King Edward Medical University (KEMU). The minister said people suffering from mental illnesses were being provided medical facilities in Punjab, while greater awareness and counselling were needed to support their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. He called for collective efforts to address the stigma surrounding mental illness, saying people with mental health conditions should not be treated as "disabled" but as "differently-abled" individuals requiring greater care and support. Khawaja Salman congratulated Professor Dr Mahmood Ayaz on his reappointment as KEMU vice chancellor and appreciated the university administration for organising the consultation. He said the government was taking measures to improve healthcare facilities in the province in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, adding that new hospitals were also being established across Punjab.