President Asif Ali Zardari, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have urged women to get medical counsel early if they have any worries about their health on Breast Cancer Awareness Day.

In his message President Asif Ali Zardari said that breast cancer was a disease which afflicted thousands of Pakistani families, and its implications were not limited to the patients but had social and emotional impacts on the entire families. He urged women to be alert for any changes in their health and to seek proper medical assistance.

The president said the family and the community should make an environment in which the women may speak of their health problems openly and take medical help without any fear and hesitation. He also highlighted the need to provide emotional, social and family support to women living with breast cancer and to women who have completed treatment.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the issues about awareness of breast cancer, early identification, appropriate treatment and continuous care were vital. The government was determined to ensuring that no Pakistani woman was denied of timely and quality treatment due to her location or financial status, he said.

The prime minister said the government was collaborating with the concerned federal, provincial and municipal institutions to enhance access to primary healthcare services and specialised cancer treatment. He underlined the need to provide special attention to women in rural and underdeveloped areas, where access to healthcare facilities was still limited.

“Lady health workers are playing a vital role in creating awareness among women about symptoms of breast cancer, self-examination, timely medical advice and importance of visiting healthcare facilities,” he stated. Special training was also being imparted to the primary health care professionals to boost the early detection capacity.

The Prime Minister said that the Federal Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnostic Center at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) was providing screening and diagnostic services, free drugs and referrals for suspected cases requiring further treatment. The government was also working with public health programs and commercial organisations to increase access to screening.

Shehbaz Sharif asked families, media, religious leaders, educational institutions, civic society and medical experts to assist overcome the taboo and hesitancy about breast cancer and motivate women to get prompt screenings and treatment.

In her message, first lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari urged women to take care of their health and approach skilled medical professionals without any reluctance whenever they have any health issues. She said people with breast cancer required the support of their family and society during this tough period.

The first lady thanked doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, volunteers, patient support organisations and the media for their efforts. She noted the need for open communication and correct information on breast cancer, so that no woman would feel alone in her treatment or in facing the disease.

“The mineral resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) belong to the people and will continue to be their property,” said the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.

Chaudhry commented on the political environment, saying the opposition was divided over the issue of Mahmood Achakzai, stating that most opposition members did not want him to become opposition leader.

Addressing the media here on Sunday, the federal minister said the main purpose of implementing a state of emergency in the province was to eradicate terrorists and improve the law and order situation in the 12 affected districts.

He claimed that intelligence-based operations were being carried out expeditiously to wipe out terrorists and added that there would be no displacement of inhabitants from the impacted districts.

He also reiterated that administrative control of provincial government would be created in these areas.

Chaudhry rejected the linkage of the subject of emergency with mineral resources, adding that KP’s mineral riches were the property of its people. He said the issuing of mineral licenses would be investigated transparently and called on political stakeholders to support the ongoing efforts to restore peace instead of undermining counterterrorism activities.

The minister also lashed out at the KP administration and accused it of corruption.

He called on Achakzai to go before Parliament and explain his views.

He also called upon Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman to express his views on terrorism.

Federal minister said that the doors for negotiations between the government and the opposition were open.

The government was ready for real engagement and would welcome sincere efforts by the opposition to have negotiations, he said.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam said people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had rejected “politics of chaos” and voiced their wish for peace, development and prosperity.

Addressing a gathering in Swat, Muqam said the people’s refusal to join the PTI’s protest call was a clear indication that the people of the province wanted development and not political confrontation.

“The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are politically aware and they have made their priorities clear,” he added. “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa does not belong to anyone,” he remarked, adding that the people desired prosperity not unrest.

Criticising PTI, the federal minister said the party was given the mandate to govern the province thrice but it failed to match the popular expectations. He claimed that under the time of PTI corruption and mismanagement existed and the province suffered throughout the last 13 years.

“The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are supporting the initiatives taken by the federal government,” Muqam added.

He said the sacrifices of the citizens of the province in the war against terror should be recognised and their efforts should not be ignored.

The minister said the people of the province wanted peace that would last, economic progress and prosperity and not protests and political upheaval.