**LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday rolled out the Naya Pakistan Health Card Programme in Punjab - an initiative that will see people living in Pakistan's biggest province gain access to healthcare facilities.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the Governor House, Lahore, PM Imran said that the roll out of the scheme was a landmark moment in Pakistan's history as it continues the journey to become a welfare state on the model of the Riyasat-e-Madinah.

Punjab is set to become the second province after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - where residents received health insurance under the same scheme in February - to offer its residents universal coverage.

The premier said that thirty million health cards would be distributed in the province within three month, starting from Lahore in January next year. As part of the scheme, card holders will be able to avail free medical treatment up to Rs1 million per year.

The PM also lauded Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and the provincial health minister, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, for spearheading the project which envisions a spend of Rs440 billion rupees in three years.

He said that due to this programme, the private sector will be encouraged to invest in the healthcare sector and hospitals will be set up in every backward areas.

“This is not health insurance rather a health system," he remarked, adding that the private sector would build hospitals even in villages where the basic health units remain vacant due to lack of doctors.

"Now private sector will enter healthcare and the poorest of the poor will get free treatment,” the prime minister asserted.

Talking about his own experience, he said the difficulties his family faced during his mother's cancer treatment had compelled him to work on universal health insurance. "I wanted to ensure no one had to sell their belongings to get medical treatment of their loved ones."

It was the same philosophy that compelled him to set up Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, he continued.

Talkign about the the Ehsaas Ration Card, the premier said it would be provided to half the population of Pakistan, while pointing out that the criteria was for their monthly income to be below fifty thousand rupees.

"They will get a thirty per cent discount on flour, pulses and sugar from ‘Karyana’ stores," he added.