Pakistan, in collaboration with WHO and global partners, is strengthening efforts to eliminate tuberculosis through expanded diagnostics, wider treatment coverage, and improved healthcare integration, achieving a 95% treatment success rate while addressing one of the highest TB burdens globally.
March 2026- On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination, through the Common Management Unit for AIDS, TB and Malaria, along with the World Health Organization, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening joint efforts and increasing investment to eliminate tuberculosis, a disease that impacts over 669,000 individuals and leads to 51,000 deaths each year in Pakistan. The country accounts for 73% of the TB burden in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and ranks as the fifth most affected globally. Daily, more than 1,800 new cases are reported, while around 140 people lose their lives to the disease.
Under the theme “Yes, We Can End TB – Led by Countries, Powered by People,” both the Ministry and WHO urged all stakeholders to contribute towards ending the world’s deadliest infectious disease. They emphasized that TB is curable and highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment in saving lives. The public was encouraged to access any of the 2,031 healthcare facilities, across both public and private sectors, that provide free TB diagnosis and treatment in line with WHO guidelines. Pakistan currently reports a treatment success rate of 95%.
The country has made notable progress in increasing TB case notifications and expanding treatment coverage, reaching over 497,000 people in 2024, which represents 74% of the estimated affected population. This marks a significant improvement from 2015, when 331,800 individuals, or 63% of those affected, were covered.
Over the past decade, with technical support from WHO, Pakistan has delivered diagnostic and treatment services to nearly 5 million people affected by TB. The country has also expanded access to WHO-recommended rapid molecular diagnostic tools, with more than 562 GeneXpert sites now operational, improving early detection and treatment outcomes. Additionally, national TB guidelines have been revised to reflect the latest WHO recommendations.
With financial assistance from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, WHO continues to collaborate closely with the Government of Pakistan to strengthen TB control programmes, enhance healthcare infrastructure, improve access to services, and scale up detection and treatment efforts. These initiatives also focus on reducing stigma and promoting prevention. WHO has further supported training and capacity-building for healthcare workers and has helped integrate TB services with mental health, as well as reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child healthcare.
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“Despite global and fiscal pressures, the Government is fully committed to end TB through coordinated multisectoral actions; sustainable domestic financing; and a patient-centered approach with participation of the communities and all stakeholders”, said Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal.
“In Pakistan, every 10 minutes, one person dies from tuberculosis. These deaths are preventable, because tuberculosis is curable. Ending tuberculosis is not just aspirational; it is achievable. WHO will stand with Pakistan and its partners to continue to intensify early detection and treatment for all, no matter where they live or who they are,” said WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Luo Dapeng. “Leaving no one behind is not only the right thing to do; it is also essential to preserve global public health and avert a growing epidemic, and to build a healthier and more prosperous world for all.”
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