Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal on Saturday expressed optimism over the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Bill 2026, recently approved by parliament, saying the legislation would help address the nursing shortage and create greater employment opportunities for Pakistani nurses internationally.
According to the Ministry of Health, the minister described the nursing sector as the backbone of the healthcare system, noting that Pakistan currently faces a shortage of around 900,000 nurses, while global demand stands at nearly 2.5 million.
He said the government would modernize the nursing council and align nursing education and professional standards with international requirements. “The new law will help ensure merit and transparency in the nursing sector and improve institutional performance,” he added.
The federal minister said that the Nursing Council had previously been regarded as a centre of mismanagement and corruption, reiterating that the new initiative would not only improve healthcare services at the national level but also expand global employment opportunities for Pakistani nurses.
The minister stated that the landmark legislation was the result of the effective leadership and continuous efforts of Syed Mustafa Kamal and forms part of the government’s broader health sector reform agenda.
