Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Extends Health Card Facility to Capt Safdar and Maryam Nawaz

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has reportedly extended health card facilities to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader retired Captain Safdar and his wife, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, according to provincial officials.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information Shafi Jan stated during a session of the KP Assembly that Capt Safdar is a resident of the province, making him eligible for the health card program. He further added that Maryam Nawaz is also entitled to the facility as his spouse.
The remarks came during a discussion on allegations of corruption against the provincial government. Responding to criticism, Shafi Jan said that claims alone were not enough and anyone with evidence of wrongdoing should present it publicly.
He highlighted that the provincial government has spent significant funds on the health card initiative over the past two years, adding that the program is still functional in regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He further stated that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the health card provides up to Rs. 1 million in coverage along with free medicines.
Shafi Jan also defended the government’s performance, claiming that KP’s governance has been widely acknowledged in public surveys. He said Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has strongly advocated for the rights of the province, particularly regarding its share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
He further criticized opposition parties, alleging that accusations of corruption from certain political quarters were ironic, and remarked that while “Bhutto lives in Sindh, the people are suffering.”