Pakistan health data worrisome as compared to neighbouring states

E-Paper | March 11, 2026

ISLAMABAD: While life expectancy is the lowest in Pakistan as compared to other countries of the region, the cumulative health expenditures by federal and provincial governments in the Financial Year 2019 increased to Rs421.8 billion from Rs416.5bn of previous year, showing a growth of only 1.3 per cent.

Moreover, the allocation in health sector was 1.1pc of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to Economic Survey 2019-20, the national health security is increasingly threatened in Pakistan due to population growth, rising urbanisation, environmental pollution and change in lifestyle of people, among other factors.

It shows that life expectancy in Pakistan is the lowest in Pakistan i.e. 67.1 years as compared to 69.4 years in India, 72.3 years in Bangladesh, 76.8 years in Sri Lanka and 76.7 years in China.

Infant mortality rate (IMR) is 57.2 per 1,000 live births in Pakistan, as compared to 29.9 in India, 25.1 in Bangladesh, only 6.4 in Sri Lanka and 7.4 in China.

However, in maternal mortality rate (MMR) Pakistan has better number as compared to India and Bangladesh.

The MMR per 100,000 deliveries is 140 in Pakistan, as compared to 145 in India and 173 in Bangladesh. In Sri Lanka MMR is 36 and in China only 29 in 100,000 live births.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2020

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Aslam

Jun 12, 2020 09:25am

and still we boast

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Kung fu khan

Jun 12, 2020 09:27am

Smart lockdown not working?

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Randeep Hooda

Jun 12, 2020 11:35am

Somebody show this to Mr. niazi. Who

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Jun 12, 2020 11:38am

Gear PMIK, pl feel free to consult Indian experts if you are in need of guidance

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Joe

Jun 12, 2020 11:57am

But there are some who only look at neighbouring countries as poorest, uneducated,no health system as compare to Pakistan. Truth, yes is hurting ,but that is the fact.

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A Rational

Jun 12, 2020 12:31pm

Pakistan should divert its attention from defence and should concentrate on Health and Education. India is far better as India's population is huge. Bangladesh is also far ahead of Pakistan in all parameters. It looks like Pakistan is deteriorating on all fronts of development as the Politicians keep the public attention away from the basis issue.

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Vikas

Jun 12, 2020 01:05pm

Again a senseless comparison with regional countries. When will Pakistan learn that it has moved away from comparison with these countries and now is in the league of Somalia, Libya, Ethiopia etc. The government made great efforts successfully to get Pakistan listed into the category of "Poorest of Poor Nations" and Pakistanis will be happy to note that amongst those comparable nations, Pakistan is actually doing very well.

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Ukasha rajpoot

Jun 12, 2020 01:25pm

Congrats to Sri Lanka.

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Fastrack

Jun 12, 2020 01:28pm

@Kung fu khan, Did you even read the article?

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prakash

Jun 12, 2020 01:38pm

India will help ..

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Bharat Dave

Jun 12, 2020 03:34pm

@Fastrack, Did you read properly?

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LgbtqX

Jun 12, 2020 05:08pm

Such a sad situation.

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Sowhardha

Jun 12, 2020 05:15pm

It’s because health is not a priority in Pakistan, never was and probably never will be.

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Adil

Jun 12, 2020 08:21pm

No wonder the health sector is in shambles. No money no output. Brace yourselves

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Asif Ali

Jun 12, 2020 08:41pm

Generally, our media show is neighboring countries as the poorest, uneducated, no health system as compared to Pakistan.

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Dr Wajahat

Jun 12, 2020 09:54pm

Economic Survey 2019-20Healthcare data is not correct. It is showing more than 9,000 Tehsil HQ hospitals in Punjab and more than 10,000 RHQ. Punjab Health department and Finance division should ensure that they do not present so horrendous wrong data in economic survey report. Health Minister and secretary health should at least read few pages before publication.

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Secularist

Jun 12, 2020 10:08pm

Two simple questions may throw out the answers: (1) How many citizens from neighboring countries have appealed and sought specialized surgeries and treatment from Pakistan? (2) In August 2019, how many hundreds of doctors were laid off by Said Arabia because they did recognize the medical degrees from Pakistan? It is worth reflecting on the answers.

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gghh

Jun 12, 2020 11:17pm

@Fastrack, why do you care?

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Dr. Grouf

Jun 13, 2020 09:11am

US population 330 million, Pakistan population 220 million. US has 1.5 times Pakistan's population US alleged covid deaths 114,000 Pakistan alleged covid deaths 2400 The US has 48 times the death even though the population is spread out over a larger area. India with 1. 35 billion people, four times the population has 9000 covid deaths recorded. Even after we control for over 65 vulnerable group population US 15% vs Pak 4.5% vs India 6%, the disparity in death is huge. To put the 2400 alleged covid deaths in perspective, note that under age 5 death rate, due to poverty, in Pakistan total 440,000/yr (69 per 1000 live births UN data), that comes to 1220 daily deaths, every day of under 5, calculate life-years lost vs 2400 total (alleged) covid deaths that affect mostly those over 65. Life years lost disparity given average life expectancy between the two is huge, even bigger than the disparity between 2400 and 440,000 The scare is misplaced, the lockdown is murderous.

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JustSaying

Jun 13, 2020 11:39am

@A Rational, You spoke my mind... Some commentators are just boasting about how Pakistan is far ahead among the Asian nations... But it's just the other way round....

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DIA

Jun 13, 2020 12:58pm

Thanks to smart lock down and China

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