KARACHI: Highlighting their concerns over the growing burden of cancer cases in the country, in a statement released in connection with World Cancer Day 2026, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has called upon the government to develop a centralised registry to effectively fight the dreadful disease.

According to the association, this year’s theme — United by Unique — marks a critical shift in oncology: acknowledging that while cancer is a collective burden, the path to a cure is deeply individual.

“Pakistan currently reports over 185,000 new cancer cases annually. However, these are not just statistics, they represent diverse biological profiles and socio-economic realities that require a move away from ‘one-size-fits-all’ healthcare,” the association stated.

The association believes that the prevalence of cancer in Pakistan is heavily influenced by an intersection of genetics, environment, and lifestyle.

Marking World Cancer Day, PMA asks govt to develop a centralised registry

“Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of all cases. Oral cavity cancer is disproportionately high due to the culturally ingrained use of smokeless tobacco. Lung cancer is rising sharply in urban centres due to deteriorating air quality,” the association stated.

It identified four primary drivers of the national cancer crisis: the rampant use of gutka, naswar, and paan, alongside cigarette smoking, all fuelling the epidemic of oral and lung malignancies; unregulated industrial waste and hazardous air quality levels, which are now recognised as direct carcinogens; chronic Hepatitis B and C (liver cancer) and HPV (cervical cancer) continue to claim lives despite the availability of vaccines and cousin marriages that are contributing to a higher incidence of inherited syndromes, such as colorectal and ovarian cancers.

The association has called for actions that should meet specialised patient needs.

“The barriers faced by a patient in a rural village are fundamentally different from those in Karachi or Lahore. Our fight must be as specific as the patients we serve,” it says.

Its recommendations included establishment of a centralised cancer registry to track unique patient profiles and outcomes, decisive enforcement against illicit and smokeless tobacco sales and reducing the financial wall between a patient and life-saving screenings.

It also released preventive guidelines for the public.

“Women over 40 should receive annual mammograms. Regular Pap smears are vital for cervical health. We should ensure 100 per cent coverage for the hepatitis B vaccine and expanding HPV vaccine access for young girls. Obesity-related cancers could be tackled through reducing processed sugar intake and 30 minutes of daily physical activity,” it said.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2026