Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif have emphasised the need for early screening, timely medical intervention and public awareness to address the rapidly increasing prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan.

In his message on World Diabetes Day, observed on November 14, 2026, the prime minister said the rapid spread of diabetes was becoming a serious public health challenge in the country. He stressed that timely screening and medical intervention were essential to prevent complications and save precious lives.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was joining the international community in highlighting the importance of effective measures and mutual cooperation to prevent diabetes. He noted that diabetes is a major public health problem worldwide, affecting millions of people. He added that expanding the coverage of early diagnosis and treatment facilities is essential to contain the spread of the disease in Pakistan. The Prime Minister said that the Prime Minister’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Program has been designed to combat the disease and the federal government has allocated Rs 680 crore for its implementation.

He said the plan aims to expand screening for early detection, improve primary health care facilities and increase public access to diagnosis and treatment.

Shehbaz Sharif added that promoting healthy lifestyles, raising public awareness and ensuring effective coordination between federal and provincial governments were also among the programme’s priorities.

He urged citizens to adopt healthy lifestyles, consume balanced and nutritious diets, make exercise part of their daily routines and undergo regular medical check-ups and screening. He also advised people to seek timely medical advice from qualified healthcare professionals.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, in her special message on World Diabetes Day, described diabetes as a silent enemy that could be controlled through precautionary measures, awareness and a disciplined lifestyle.

She said the rising prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan required more effective measures, adding that the rapid spread of the disease was a cause for concern but could be addressed through collective efforts.

Maryam Nawaz said health was a fundamental right of every citizen and the Punjab government was taking steps to ensure healthcare facilities reached people at their doorsteps. She said that for the first time in history, insulin kits are being delivered to the homes of children with type 1 diabetes.

The chief minister added that millions of medicine kits are also being sent home to patients suffering from diabetes and other diseases to ensure they have access to medical facilities at their doorsteps. She encouraged citizens to take responsibility for their own health and emphasized the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle.

She said a balanced diet, regular exercise and continuous blood sugar monitoring are key to preventing and controlling diabetes. Maryam Nawaz believes that the fight against diabetes is not only the responsibility of the government but also the collective responsibility of society. She said raising public awareness and taking preventive measures can help slow the spread of the disease. She added that the theme of this year’s World Diabetes Day is “Diabetes and Health”, which emphasizes the importance of early screening and medical care to prevent complications.

A growing number of Pakistanis want the country to have more provinces, and new poll results show growing public support for splitting up existing administrative units to improve governance, accelerate development and bring public services closer to citizens.

The demand is growing amid concerns that large provincial governments are struggling to meet the needs of remote areas and smaller communities. Meridian Analytics’ 2026 Meridian Country Barometer of 5,000 citizens found that 77% of respondents support annexation, a significant increase of 23 percentage points since November 2022. Support was 54% in 2022, rising to 66% in 2024 and finally reaching 77% in the latest poll.

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The findings underline how the debate over new provinces is increasingly linked to everyday governance concerns rather than political boundaries alone, with citizens expecting smaller administrative units to improve the delivery of essential services and ensure more balanced regional development.

South Punjab, Bahawalpur in focus

The demand for new provinces has remained a prominent issue in Pakistan’s political landscape, particularly in Punjab, where calls for separate South Punjab and Bahawalpur provinces have repeatedly surfaced.

Supporters of a South Punjab province argue that a separate administrative structure would give the region greater attention in development planning, budget allocation and public service delivery. The region comprises several districts, including Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh.

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The Bahawalpur province demand also has a distinct historical background, with advocates seeking restoration of the former Bahawalpur state’s provincial status. Both proposals have featured in political manifestos, parliamentary discussions and electoral campaigns, although disagreements over boundaries, administrative arrangements and political consensus have prevented their implementation. Hazaras and Potohars

Similar requests have emerged elsewhere. There are calls for a separate province in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hazara district, while proposals for a Karachi province regularly reignite the debate in Sindh. At the center of the administrative reorganization discussions are also proposals to create Potohar province to cover northern parts of Punjab.

Support from all over Pakistan

The Meridian survey found significant support in other of the four existing provinces, suggesting that demand is not limited to specific areas. The highest support was recorded in Sindh at 80%, followed by Punjab at 78%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 75% and Balochistan at 72%. Karachi stood out with 92% support, one of the strongest numbers highlighted in the survey.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has decided to appoint three high court judges as Acting Supreme Court Judges to facilitate timely disposal of pending cases and speed up judicial proceedings.

The proposed post includes two judges from the Lahore High Court and one judge from the Peshawar High Court. According to Supreme Court sources, the proposed judges are Justice Sadakat Ali Khan and Justice Shahbaz Rizvi of the Lahore High Court and Justice Ijaz Anwar of the Peshawar High Court.

A meeting of the Judicial Council chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi is expected to be held later this month to consider the proposed appointments. The sanctioned composition of the Supreme Court is 34 judges. However, the number of vacancies in the Supreme Court has reduced to 16 after the retirement of Justice Jamal Khan Mandohail.

The shortage of judges has contributed to an increased caseload, making the timely disposal of pending cases increasingly difficult.

Sources said Chief Justice Yahya Afridi intends to appoint the three High Court judges as acting Supreme Court judges to address the shortage and help clear the backlog of cases. On this occasion, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi hosted a dinner for the judges of the Peshawar High Court. Judges of the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi court were also invited, along with Justice Syed Shahbaz Rizvi, who presides over the Multan court. Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf, Justice Raza Qureshi, Justice Syed Farhad Ali Shah and several other judges were also present at the dinner.

Further progress on the proposed appointments is expected after the Judiciary Committee meeting.