Pakistan, Sept. 28 -- The Prime Minister's National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C has set a target of screening more than 164 million people across Pakistan, with the initiative projected to avert 850,000 deaths and 1.1 million new infections by 2050.

According to official sources, the programme, launched initially in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), will reach around 1.6 million people during its first six months before being expanded in phases to other parts of the country.

The initiative aims to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030 through expanded screening, early detection, access to treatment and strengthened prevention measures, they added.

Pakistan has an estimated 10 million hepatitis C case...