Increase in spending on social sector priority of Govt: President.

ISLAMABAD -- President Dr. Arif Alvi has said that increase in the spending on social sector is priority of the Government.

He was talking to Regional Director, World Health Organization Dr. Ahmed Salim Saif Al-Mandhari and Regional Director, UNICEF SEARO Ms. Jean Gough, who called on him in Islamabad on Monday.

The President said that budget allocation for health has been increased to 2% from the current 0.9% of the GDP towards the attainment of Universal Health Care and Sustainable Development health related Goals.

He underscored that the incumbent Government has recently taken a major initiative in expanding the Health Card Scheme for the poor to include 80 million more individuals across Pakistan.

The President emphasized that Pakistan is fully committed to polio eradication and Pakistan has achieved tremendous progress in stopping polio virus transmission, reducing the cases to 8 so far this year.

The President expressed gratitude to the international community for their support of the efforts being made in Pakistan. He further stated that Pakistan is committed to the United Nations High level meeting declaration on TB and to achieve the SDG/ End TB targets to root out Tuberculosis by 2030.

President said that Pakistan is committed to strengthening Family Planning programme aiming to achieve pledges towards FP 2020 and SDGs which will also lead to improving maternal, newborn and child health indicators of Pakistan.

He also highlighted Pakistan's commitment...