I S L A M A B A D : President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday called for making cancer prevention and control a national priority.

In his message on World Cancer Day being observed on Feb 4(today), the president said: `we come together as a nation and as part of the global community to reaffirm our commitment to the fight against cancer.

He said this day was a reminder of the profound challenges posed by this disease and an opportunity to inspire hope through collective action, innovation, and resilience.`As we observe World Cancer Day, it is essential to recognise the gravity of this disease as it is one of the largest causes of death. Rapid urbanisation, lifestyle changes, and limited awareness have further compounded this challenge. This calls for renewed commitment and intensified efforts to alleviate the burden of this disease,` the president said.

`The government, in collaboration with provincial governments, healthcare institutions, and global partners, is making efforts to address this issue. We have initiated measures to strengthen our healthcare infrastructure, conduct a compre-hensive situation analysis of cancer interventions, develop national and provincial cancer strategies, and mobilise resources through innovative public-private partnerships, he said.

Cancer is not only a health issue but also a societal challenge requiring collective efforts. We need to raise awareness about the disease and, in thisregard, the support of the media is highly important to educate the people about its symptoms, prevention and early detection.

`I firmly believe that we can overcome this challenge through the active support of civil society, media, community-based organisations, and international partners, he said.

He urged all citizens, healthcare professionals, civil society, and the private sector to join hands in this noble cause.

`Together, we can ensure that every individual, regardless of socioeconomic status, has access to timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and compassionate care,` he added.

`Let us pledge to make cancer prevention and control a national priority.

I am sure that together, we can bring hope and healing to those affected and honour the lives of those who have been lost to this disease,` President Zardari urged.