The Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety has called for a more efficient and transparent system for distributing financial aid to patients, following a detailed review of a Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) programme that has disbursed over Rs 685 million at Mayo Hospital since 2021.
During a visit to the major Lahore-based medical facility on Wednesday, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah scrutinised the PBM”s individual financial assistance mechanism, focusing on the transparent and timely provision of support to deserving individuals, according to an official report today.
Official figures show that between 2021 and 2026, the PBM, an attached department of the Ministry, provided a total of Rs. 685.8 million for the medical treatment of 3,035 patients at Mayo Hospital. A substantial portion of this, Rs. 190 million, was allocated last year specifically for cancer patients.
Disbursements during the 2024-25 financial year amounted to Rs. 321.4 million for 1,180 patients. In the current fiscal year, Rs. 106.6 million have so far been provided for the care of 535 patients.
The minister issued firm directives to ensure the punctual disbursement of financial assistance, ordering that the system be enhanced for greater efficiency. He also clarified that the aid provided by the PBM is a government-funded welfare support mechanism and should not be confused with Zakat.
This inspection is part of a broader national oversight effort. The minister noted his earlier visits to other major hospitals, including PIMS, NORI, NIRM, and Nishtar Hospital, which resulted in directives to establish dedicated PBM facilitation desks to improve patient access to services.
He concluded by emphasising that the timely and transparent delivery of assistance to deserving patients remains a top priority for the Government of Pakistan.