Serious Heart Disease and Diabetes Crisis in Balochistan: CPDI Calls for Dedicated Budget Funds
Quetta: The Center for Peace and Development Initiatives has described the rapidly rising rates of heart disease and diabetes in Balochistan as a severe humanitarian crisis and urged the provincial government to allocate permanent and dedicated funds for these conditions in the 2026‑27 budget.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the organization highlighted that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 58% of total deaths in . In rural districts of Balochistan, such as Washuk, Awaran, and Musakhel, many patients die before reaching hospitals due to lack of diagnostic and treatment facilities. The report noted that heart disease alone accounts for over 17% of the province’s overall health budget, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The CPDI recommended that the Balochistan government launch a province-wide blood pressure and diabetes screening campaign under the initiative “Know Your Numbers” and ensure subsidized provision of insulin and other essential medicines at basic health units (BHUs).
Mukhtar Ahmed Ali emphasized that temporary grants cannot address a systematic health crisis. He called for a dedicated “budget line” in the provincial budget, describing it not as mere expenditure but as a critical investment to save thousands of lives and reduce future medical costs, ensuring that residents outside the provincial capital are not left vulnerable to these deadly diseases.
