Pakistan has recorded about 700,000 stillbirths annually, the highest number globally, while 42 out of every 1,000 babies die within their first month of life, giving the country the world's highest neonatal mortality rate, according to a report.
A report published in The News Pakistan, citing a senior health official, highlighted that Pakistan's population and health challenges are linked to deep-rooted systemic issues.
Nearly 48 per cent of pregnancies in Pakistan are unwanted and contribute to around 380,000 abortions every year, it added.
Many of these procedures are reportedly carried out at unregulated clinics and can lead to severe complications, including sepsis.
Around 20 per cent of couples face unmet family planning needs. The official attributed the problem primarily to shortages of resources and gaps in service delivery rather than resistance from communities.
The report said population dynamics cannot be viewed solely through a medical lens and argued that the country's demographic challenges reflect broader structural failures.
It also cautioned against excessive reliance on externally driven terminology in public policy discussions, saying this could trigger cultural resistance and undermine efforts to address population-related issues.
Separately, another report showed that around 161 million people in Pakistan were unable to afford the cheapest combination of grains, pulses, milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables and other nutritious foods after accounting for essential non-food expenses such as housing, transport and utilities.
Nearly two-thirds of Pakistan's population could not afford a minimum healthy diet in 2025, giving the country the highest rate of healthy diet unaffordability in South Asia despite having the region's lowest-cost nutritious food basket.
Food affordability remains a major challenge in Pakistan despite a moderation in inflation from the peaks recorded in 2023.
The report also showed that real household incomes fell by nearly 13 per cent after adjusting for inflation.
With Inputs From IANS
