Every day in Pakistan, around 675 infants under one month old and 27 mothers lose their lives due to preventable complications, leading to over 246,000 newborns and nearly 11,000 maternal deaths annually, according to the United Nations and the World Health Organisation (WHO)
On World Health Day 2025, these agencies urged the government and international partners to invest urgently in maternal and newborn health, warning that inaction jeopardises the nation’s future.
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The WHO reported that Pakistan also faces over 190,000 stillbirths annually, primarily due to treatable conditions such as postpartum haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, infections, and complications from unsafe abortions.
These distressing figures place Pakistan among the top four countries — alongside Nigeria, DR Congo, and India — contributing to 47% of the estimated 260,000 global maternal deaths in 2023, according to a recent UN report.
“Every country needs healthy mothers and healthy newborns to have a prosperous future. Ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths is possible if we reinvigorate our efforts,” said Dr Dapeng Luo, WHO representative in Pakistan.
