PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will allow residents of merged districts to use their national identity cards as Sehat Sahulat cards.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan here on Tuesday, according to a statement.

The meeting was informed that people of the merged districts could use their CNICs as Sehat Sahulat cards.

On the occasion, Mahmood Khan said provision of free healthcare to all the citizens of the province was an important milestone towards establishment of a welfare state.

Under the Sehat Sahulat Programme every household is being provided with free healthcare worth Rs720,000 at designated hospitals.

The chief minister said after the extension of the free healthcare programme to all districts, KP had become the first province to facilitate its public by allowing them to use their CNICs instead of Sehat Sahulat cards which was an important step towards facilitating general public.

He was informed that in all district headquarters hospitals of the tribal districts, citizens would be able to use their CNICs to avail free medical treatment.

Mahmood Khan directed the health and information department to undertake efforts for creating awareness among masses on availing free healthcare.