ISLAMABAD: The coronavirus pandemic has amplified the critical need to speed up efforts for universal health care in Pakistan, shows a study published by Islamabad-based public policy think tank Tabadlab on Thursday.
Authored by entrepreneurial health care executive Dr. Muhammad Ali Chaudhry and public policy adviser Ammara Khan, the study points out that despite the introduction of programs and initiatives intended to improve the long-neglected state of public health in Pakistan, systemic weaknesses still prevail. The impact of these weaknesses has been perpetuated by the COVID-19 crisis, which reinforces the need to ensure effective crisis management and fast-track progress toward universal health care.
According to the paper, Pakistan ranks 154th out of 195 countries in terms of the quality and accessibility of its health care, which is far behind India (145th), China (48th), Sri Lanka (71st), Bangladesh (133rd) and Bhutan (134th).
The national health infrastructure serving the country’s 220 million population comprises 1,279 hospitals, 5,527 basic health units, 686 rural health centers, 5,671 dispensaries, 747 maternal and child health center and 441 tuberculosis centers. The total availability of beds in these health facilities is estimated at only 145,124.
Pakistan’s health care system is also severely understaffed. The paper shows that there are significantly fewer physicians, nurses, midwives, community health workers, pharmacists than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends. Doctor to patient ratio in Pakistan 1:1,300, doctor nurse ratio is 1:2.7. The WHO suggests that doctor to patient ratio should be 1:1,000 and doctor nurse ratio 1:4. With such low levels of staffing, Pakistan is listed as one of 57 countries with a critical health workforce deficiency.
The study’s authors argue that with the current fiscal constraints on public health expenditure in Pakistan, it is necessary to explore alternative strategies for enhancing the efficiency of the health system. While the total public spending on health in Pakistan has increased in absolute terms year after year, the allocations as a percentage of GDP seem to be fluctuating significantly. Most recently, it peaked at a high of 1.2 percent in FY 2017-18 before slightly declining to 1.1 percent in 2018-19.
Since the devolution of health to the provinces, the proportion of government health spending has increased in all provinces and is accompanied by higher policy ownership for health. However, the working paper says, allocations are still inadequate to meet the country’s essential health needs and there is lack of strategic harnessing of other government and non-governmental sources of funding.
The paper notes that pressures on public health institutions from a rapidly growing population have allowed the private sector to service the gap created by an ever-increasing demand and limited public health facilities. Currently, there is a preference for private health care across the country, with 70 percent of the population paying out-of-pocket for treatment.
According to the study’s authors, the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the wider public health ecosystem, the economy, lives, livelihoods and wellbeing of people and communities across the country only reinforces the need for a “strong and resilient public health system, one that provides affordable high-quality health care and delivers effective crisis management.” Achieving health care universality, the researchers say, will result in improved staffing levels thereby new jobs, ancillary activities that support the sector, increased demand across value chain components and room for innovation and growth.
COVID-19 crisis shows universal health care critically needed in Pakistan — research
https://arab.news/6gm8s
COVID-19 crisis shows universal health care critically needed in Pakistan — research
- Lack of public health facilities results in 70 percent of Pakistanis paying out-of-pocket for treatment
- Pakistan ranks 154th out of 195 countries in terms of the quality and accessibility of its health care, far behind India and Bangladesh
Pakistan calls Indian PM’s remarks about regional peace ‘misleading and one-sided’
- PM Narendra Modi said in a recent podcast that India’s attempts to foster peace with Pakistan were ‘met with hostility and betrayal’
- India’s ‘fictitious narrative of victimhood’ can’t hide its involvement in fomenting militancy on Pakistan’s soil, Islamabad says
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Monday said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks on a podcast about regional peace were “misleading and one-sided,” criticizing New Delhi for “conveniently” omitting the Kashmir dispute from discussions.
Modi, in a podcast with American computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman released on Sunday, said that India’s attempts to foster peace with Pakistan were “met with hostility and betrayal” and hoped that “wisdom would prevail” on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties.
In response to Modi’s remarks, the Pakistani Foreign Office said India’s “fictitious narrative of victimhood” could not hide its involvement in fomenting militancy on Pakistan’s soil and the “state-sanctioned oppression” Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a flashpoint between Pakistan and India since their independence from the British rule in 1947. Both Pakistan and India rule parts of the Himalayan territory, but claim it in full and have fought three wars over the disputed region.
“Instead of blaming others, India should reflect on its own record of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories,” it said in a statement.
“Pakistan has always advocated constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The statement by the Pakistani Foreign Office was a reference to allegations against Indian agents of plotting assassinations in the United States (US) and Canada.
In Jan. 2024, Pakistan also accused India of “extraterritorial” and “extrajudicial” killings of two of its citizens on Pakistani soil, while it has consistently accused India along with other countries of fomenting militancy in its western provinces, particularly Balochistan.
New Delhi denies all allegations.
The Pakistani Foreign Office further said that peace and stability in South Asia have remained “hostage to India’s rigid approach and hegemonic ambitions.”
“The anti-Pakistan narrative, emanating from India, vitiates the bilateral environment and impedes the prospects for peace and cooperation,” it said.
“It must stop.”
Pakistan’s power generation dropped 15% MoM during February— report
- Pakistan’s power generation cost declined by 13% year-on-year and 30% month-on-month during February 2025, says report
- Financial analysts attribute power generation decline to a lack of industrial activity, increasing shift toward solar energy
KARACHI: Pakistan’s power generation dropped by 15% month-on-month (MoM) in February 2025, a report by a top brokerage firm said on Monday, which analysts attributed to reduced demand due to slow industrial activity and an increasing shift of customers toward solar energy.
According to a report by brokerage firm Topline Securities, total electricity generation dropped by 3% year-on-year to 81,738 GWh over the first eight months of the fiscal year 2024-25 (from July-February). This was down from 84,317 GWh in the corresponding period last year, it said.
“Pakistan’s power generation decreased by 2% YoY and 15% MoM to 6,945 GWh in Feb 2025,” Topline Securities said.
The report cited a decline of 13% in power generation cost YoY and 30% MoM in February 2025, adding that in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, power generation cost declined by 3% to Rs8.8 per unit.
Financial analysts attributed the decline in power generation due to reduced demand as a result of lack of industrial activity and an increasing number of people shifting toward solar energy.
“There is reduced demand due to industrial activity which you can also see in the large scale manufacturing (LSM) numbers,” Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., told Arab News.
He said another reason for the decline in power generation was the increasing shift of residential consumers toward solar energy. He said commercial consumers had also installed their own captive plants that run on gas and coal.
“This also shows a shift toward alternative [sources of energy] which decreases the grid’s usage,” he added.
Samiullah Tariq, the head of research at Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company Ltd., agreed.
“Reasons include reduced industrial activity, people leaving the [national] grid due to higher [energy] prices and solar adoption,” Tariq said.
Pakistan has sought to ease fiscal pressure in recent months by undertaking energy reforms that reduce tariffs and slash capacity payments to independent power producers (IPPs). The federal cabinet approved a plan in January to renegotiate agreements with 14 IPPs in its bid to lower electricity costs and addressing the mounting circular debt.
Amid militancy surge, sale of toy guns, firecrackers banned in Peshawar ahead of Eid
- Peshawar district administration imposes ban for 30 days, warns violators will face legal action
- Peshawar district administration imposes ban for 30 days, warns violators will face legal action
ISLAMABAD: The administration in Pakistan’s northwestern Peshawar district recently banned the sale of toy guns and firecrackers for a period of 30 days to discourage “militant tendency” among children and foster a peaceful atmosphere ahead of Eid-Al-Fitr 2025, an official notification said.
Children playing with toy guns and firecrackers on public holidays such as Eid is a common sight in Pakistan. The district administration in Peshawar bans traders from selling toy guns every year before Eid holidays to discourage gun culture in the country.
In a notification dated Mar. 15, Peshawar’s Deputy Commissioner Sarmad Saleem Akram announced he was imposing a ban on the sale of toy guns and firecrackers effectively immediately for 30 days under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
“I, deputy commissioner Peshawar, in exercise of powers conferred on me u/s 144 Cr.PC, do hereby order and impose ban on sale of toy guns and fire crackers etc within the limits of district Peshawar,” the notification said.
“And whereas, to discourage nurturing of militant tendency and to maintain peaceful atmosphere of the district during Eid-Al-Fitr 2025, it is imperative to curb the menace.”
The notification said authorities would take action against anyone violating the ban, including shopkeepers and customers.
The development takes place as Pakistan witnesses a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan, especially the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Islamabad accuses the government in Kabul of sheltering militants and facilitating cross-border attacks, a claim Afghanistan strongly denies.
Pakistan revives Rajian-11 heavy oil well with advanced artificial lift technology
- Rajian-11 was suspended since 2020 due to formation challenges, expected to produce 1,000 barrels of oil a day
- ESP systems are common and efficient way to lift oil and gas from wells that are too deep, have low pressure for natural flow
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has revived production at heavy oil well Rajian-11 by installing an advanced air lift system, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said on Monday.
Extending to 3,774 meters, work at Rajian-11 had been suspended since 2020 due to formation challenges, the company’s filing on PSX said last week.
The oil field is located in District Chakwal and fully owned and operated by OGDCL under Gujar Khan E.L. It was discovered in August 1994 and has remained a key asset in the company’s portfolio.
Crude oil production in Pakistan increased to 64 BBL/D/1K (barrels of crude oil per day per 1,000) in November 2024 from 62 BBL/D/1K in October of 2024. Crude oil production in Pakistan averaged 68.67 BBL/D/1K from 1993 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 97.00 BBL/D/1K in December of 2016 and a record low of 50.00 BBL/D/1K in April of 1999, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
“OGDCL has started oil production from the Rajian-11 heavy oil well located in Chakwal district,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“Rajian-11 heavy oil well had been inactive since 2020 but it has been reactivated with the help of an advanced artificial lift system,” the broadcaster added, referring to the installation of an Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP).
The well is expected to produce one thousand barrels of oil per day.
ESP systems are a common and efficient way to lift oil and gas from wells that are too deep or have low pressure for natural flow. A submersible electric motor is placed at the bottom of the well, and it drives a multistage centrifugal pump that lifts the fluids. ESPs are suitable for wells with low bottomhole pressure, low gas/oil ratio, high water cut, and low API gravity fluids.
“This achievement underscores OGDCL’s commitment to maximizing hydrocarbon recovery and operational efficiency, reinforcing its position as a leader in Pakistan’s energy sector,” OGDCL’s PSX filing said.
“The Company successfully completed the well with an ESP in Tobra, Jutana, and Sakesar formations, restoring production to 1,000 barrels per day (BPD) of oil.”
Every attempt for peace with Pakistan met with ‘hostility, betrayal,’ says Modi
- In podcast with American computer scientist Lex Fridman, Modi hopes Pakistan chooses “path of peace“
- Indian premier praises US President Trump, says he seems “far more prepared than before” in second term
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said US President Donald Trump was ‘far more prepared’ for his second term, furnished with a clear roadmap, speaking in a podcast interview weeks ahead of reciprocal tariffs planned by Washington.
India is among the trading partners set to face the tariffs from April, which threaten to cause distress to its exporters in industries from automobiles to agriculture.
After Modi and Trump met last month, the two nations agreed to resolve tariff rows and work on the first segment of a deal by the fall of 2025, aiming to reach two-way trade of $500 billion by 2030.
“This time, he seems far more prepared than before,” Modi said in a podcast with American computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman released on Sunday, referring to Trump’s second term, which began in January.
“He has a clear roadmap in his mind with well-defined steps, each one designed to lead him toward his goals,” he added.
During the discussion, which ran more than three hours, Modi spoke on issues from diplomacy and artificial intelligence to his early life, in a conversation Fridman called one of the most “powerful” of his life.
Modi praised Trump for his graciousness and humility, underscoring a strong bond between the leaders.
“His (Trump’s) reflection showed his ‘America First’ spirit, just as I believe in nation first. I stand for India first, and that’s why we connect so well,” Modi said.
INDIA’S NEIGHBOURS
India’s relations with neighbor China improved last year after striking a milestone pact to lower military tension on their Himalayan border following talks between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia.
“Slowly but surely, trust, enthusiasm, and energy will return,” Modi said during the podcast, as the two countries work to restore relations to their state before a military border skirmish in 2020.
“But of course, it will take some time, since there’s been a five-year gap,” he said, adding that the focus of the two nations was to ensure their differences “do not turn into disputes.”
On ties with archfoe Pakistan, Modi expressed hope for peaceful relations.
“Every noble attempt at fostering peace was met with hostility and betrayal,” he said, adding, “we sincerely hope that wisdom prevails upon them and they choose the path of peace.”
The foreign ministries of China and Pakistan did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
