Islamabad: The Pakistan Global Mental Health Summit 2026 concluded today in Islamabad with a renewed commitment to strengthen mental health systems through coordinated action, sustainable financing, and community-based approaches. The two-day Summit, held on October 1-2 in conjunction with World Mental Health Day, gathered national and international experts, policymakers, development partners, UN agencies, academia, and civil society to discuss mental health challenges and collaboration opportunities.
According to Press Information Department, the Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, addressed the closing ceremony, calling for coordinated and sustained efforts to make quality mental health services accessible nationwide. He noted that approximately 32 million people in Pakistan need mental health care, with a treatment gap of about 95 percent. The Minister emphasized that this Summit aims to address this gap, highlighting the launch of the National Mental Health Policy and the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration for Global Mental Health as critical milestones.
Dr. Bharath urged provincial ownership, requesting written endorsements from all provinces and federating areas within 45 days to implement the policy. He announced plans to establish a National Hub of Excellence to translate evidence into policy and strengthen the mental health workforce. Over the next 12 months, a costed and time-bound implementation and monitoring plan will be developed in collaboration with provincial partners.
Looking ahead, Dr. Bharath outlined priorities such as expanding mental health services through primary and community-based care, strengthening the mental health workforce, and ensuring mental health is integrated into laws and health data systems. He thanked WHO, UNICEF, and other partners for their contributions and called for alignment behind a national action plan to transform commitments into concrete actions for accessible, affordable, and quality mental health services across Pakistan.