Heartfile is recognized for its pioneering contribution in the area of integrating non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, control and health promotion into health systems planning in Pakistan. In the initial states of its development, Heartfile used innovative approaches of advocacy, leveraging social marketing and the use of media. This and other advocacy approaches enabled it to convince the government of the need for a public health programme on NCDs in Pakistan. Subsequently, Heartfile became part of a tripartite public-private partnership involving the Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan, and the World Health Organization for development and implementation of a National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Promotion in Pakistan (NAP-NCD). Details about the  terms of this agreement, launching of the initiative, planning meetings leading to its development  and the release of the NAP-NCD  are posted online. Heartfile also took a lead role in helping to initiate the process of implementation of this plan on a pro bono basis; various stages of implementation of the pilot can be viewed. Heartfile's current objective is to institutionalize this programme in the Ministry of Health The NAP-NCD can also be downloaded

In addition to its role in institutionalizing the national action plan on NCDs, Heartfile also

• Established and evaluated the Heartfile-Lodhran CVD Prevention Project, a community demonstration pilot, which aimed to develop sustainable and low-resource-setting-sensitive strategies for prevention of chronic disease. Funding: Department of International Development, UK (2001-2004). End of project evaluation: click to view
• Established and evaluated the Heartfile-JC Project, a pilot, which aimed to develop an approach to integrate chronic disease prevention into the work-plan of health providers in the private sector. Funding: European Union-funded Trust for Voluntary Organizations.
• Heartfile was the principal investigator in Pakistan for the WHO PREMISE Study, a global study aimed at developing models for Prevention of Recurrences of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke and was represented on the Technical Committee of the study. Funding and Collaboration: WHO Cardiovascular Disease Unit, Geneva.
• Heartfile was the principal investigator in Pakistan for the WHO Risk Management Package, an international study aimed at testing the suitability of low-resource-setting-sensitive tools for secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Funding and collaboration: WHO Cardiovascular Disease Unit, Geneva. End of project reporting available. View publications:
• Principal investigator for the Riskcorn Study: the first case control study to determine risk factors for coronary heart disease in Pakistanis. Collaboration: Guys and St. Thomas', London. Funding: Pakistan Medical Research Council and St Thomas' Hospital, London. View publications:  
• Investigators in Pakistan for the INTERHEART study, a global study of risk factors in acute myocardial infarction; conducted by McMaster University, Canada.
• Heartfile was the principal investigator in Pakistan for the WHO Global [price of chronic disease medicines] Drug Survey, an international study to assess barriers to the use of medicines for secondary prevention of chronic disease. Funding and collaboration: WHO Cardiovascular Disease Unit, Geneva. View publications: