According to the International Diabetes Federation 282 million people around the world live with diabetes and the numbers are increasing every day. Pakistan is also deeply affected by this challenge on a personal, societal and financial level. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that there are 6.7 million people living with diabetes in Pakistan and this number will rise to 12.8 million people by 2035. The Impact of un-controlled diabetes is significant and the response will require the attention and collaboration of multiple stakeholders in society.

As part of this effort, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Government of Pakistan hosted the Pakistan Diabetes Leadership Forum on 1-2 March 2014 in partnership with the International Diabetes Federation, World Diabetes Foundation, Diabetic Association of Pakistan, Baqai Institute of Diabetology & Endocrinology, Pakistan Endocrine Society, Sakina Institute of Diabetes And Endocrine Research and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

The objective of the Pakistan Diabetes Leadership Forum 2014 was to provide a platform where key stakeholders in the area of diabetes and non-communicable diseases can interact through high-level sessions and panel discussions.

The participants included international opinion leaders, policy makers, healthcare professionals and partners in public health services as well as national and international media.

The forum gathered around 250 high-level participants from Pakistan and other countries, who share similar challenges. The desired outcome is to agree on a set of commitments and actions for improving diabetes care at both the local and national levels – an “Islamabad Call to Commitment and Action”.