Islamabad: The Pakistan Nursing Council convened its second meeting at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, where Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal stressed the indispensable role of nursing in the national healthcare framework.

According to Press Information Department, the Health Minister underscored the significant impact of nursing on patient care quality, noting a current shortage of approximately 900,000 nurses in Pakistan against a global demand of 2.5 million. Kamal appealed for the enhancement and modernization of the Pakistan Nursing Council to meet these demands, emphasizing the need for restructuring in line with international standards to restore the institution’s credibility.

Addressing council members, the Minister called for collective efforts to rehabilitate the nursing profession’s image and advocated for the development of high-quality nursing colleges. He highlighted the potential for these institutions to produce skilled nurses capable of contributing both domestically and globally, thereby aiding Pakistan’s foreign exchange through international representation.

During the session, Special Secretary Health Aslam Ghauri was appointed as President of the Pakistan Nursing Council, with Dr. Syed Ali Farhan Razi elected as Vice President. The meeting concluded with a pledge to reform the nursing sector to improve its standards and global competitiveness.