Pakistan launches national mental health policy targeting 32 million people

Pakistan's Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal launched the National Mental Health Policy 2026-2035 during the Global Mental Health Summit in Islamabad on October 5, 2026. The World Health Organization reported that the strategy aims to deliver care to more than 32.4 million people requiring mental health support across the country. [1]

The policy launch involved national and provincial authorities, academic representatives, and international partners. The World Health Organization stated that it worked alongside UNICEF and the Global Institute of Human Development at Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University to support the government's initiative. [1]

The ten-year framework is designed to address widespread gaps in mental health service coverage. As FTMQ Health reported earlier, public health experts have increasingly called for coordinated global policy interventions to safeguard mental health and improve access to care. [1][8]

The official policy framework sets out implementation targets through 2035. According to the World Health Organization, national and provincial bodies will partner with global health organizations to expand resource distribution and healthcare delivery. [1]