International self-care day observed

KARACHI: Pakistan has observed international self-care day with first-ever national dialogue on self-care. The dialogue, which was convened by Haleon Pakistan, brought together Joint Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, Syed Salahuddin Ahmed; Alison Blackburne, British Deputy High Commissioner to Karachi; and senior representatives from government, healthcare institutions, academia, development organisations, business, civil society and the media. The dialogue highlighted the importance of advancing self-care as a public health priority to improve health outcomes, strengthen health literacy and support a more resilient healthcare system. Marked annually around the world on July 24, the day raises awareness of self-care as an essential pillar of public health, promoting prevention, health literacy and empowering individuals to take greater ownership of their health. The event featured a welcome address by Qawi Naseer, CEO and General Manager of Haleon Pakistan Limited, a keynote address by the Joint Secretary, Syed Salahuddin Ahmed, and remarks by Alison Blackburne, British Deputy High Commission. This event also included a dialogue-based panel discussion featuring Dr. Ahson Qavi Siddiqi, CEO Sindh Healthcare Commission, Qawi Naseer, Dr. Samar Fatima, Associate Director of Aga Khan University’s Centre of Clinical Best Practices and Dr. Humaira Jamshed Associate Professor of Bioscience at Habib University, Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmed Siddiqui (MD, MBBS, MPH), Health Specialist at UNICEF. “A healthier Pakistan cannot be built through treatment alone. Prevention, health literacy and responsible self-care must become part of everyday life. By working together across sectors, federal and provincial, we can empower people to make informed health decisions and build a stronger, more resilient healthcare system, ” said the Joint Secretary, Syed Salahuddin Ahmed, sharing the Ministry’s perspective during his keynote address. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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