ISLAMABAD: On Friday, the Senate approved the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Bill, 2026, which aims to modernize the regulatory framework governing nursing and midwifery education, training, and licensing. The vote was tightly contested and ultimately decided by the presiding officer’s casting vote.
The bill, introduced by Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal, seeks to consolidate and update existing laws related to the registration and regulation of nurses, midwives, nursing assistants, and midwifery associates. It is designed to replace outdated legislation, including the 1973 act, to better align professional standards with the evolving needs of the healthcare sector.
During the Senate session, the vote was evenly split with 13 senators supporting the bill’s passage and 13 favoring its referral to a parliamentary committee for further review. The presiding officer broke the deadlock by casting the deciding vote in favor of the bill, allowing it to move forward.
Mustafa Kamal emphasized the urgency of passing the legislation, noting that the deadline for approval was imminent. In contrast, Pakistan People’s Party senator Sherry Rehman advocated for sending the bill to committee, arguing that there was no immediate need to rush the decision.
In a significant development, the presiding officer’s casting vote secured the bill’s approval by the upper house. The new law is expected to enhance training standards, strengthen professional competency requirements, and improve regulatory oversight of nursing and midwifery services within Pakistan’s healthcare system.
