PM urges united fight against TB

Reaffirms commitment to disease elimination

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on World Tuberculosis (TB) Day reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to eliminating the disease, calling for stronger national efforts and sustained global cooperation to tackle what remains one of the most pressing public health challenges.

In a message issued by the Prime Minister's Office to mark World TB Day, the premier said Pakistan stood with the international community in its resolve to eradicate tuberculosis, a preventable and treatable disease that continues to pose serious health, social and economic challenges, particularly in developing countries.

"Today, on World Tuberculosis Day, Pakistan, together with the international community, reaffirms its commitment to completely eliminate the treatable and preventable disease of tuberculosis."

"Even in the present era, TB remains one of the leading infectious diseases and remains a serious health, social and economic challenge for many countries, including Pakistan," he said.

"The disease particularly affects the vulnerable and has health, social and economic impacts in the form of poverty, malnutrition and inequality."

"World TB Day is observed every year to raise public awareness about the impact of the disease and to further intensify efforts to eliminate this epidemic," he remarked.

He said public participation was essential for the complete elimination of TB.

Community health workers, civil society organizations, researchers and private sector medical institutions were helpful in eliminating social stigma, encouraging timely diagnosis, and ensuring continuity of treatment.

"However, international cooperation, technical partnerships, and sustained global funding are indispensable for the complete elimination of TB," he observed.

He appealed to all relevant stakeholders, the federal and provincial governments, development partners, universities, the private sector, media, and social leaders to further strengthen collective efforts to ensure that no person with TB was left untreated.

Pakistan remains among the countries most affected by tuberculosis globally, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) ranking it among the top five high-burden nations. Recent estimates suggest that around 670,000 people develop TB in Pakistan each year, accounting for approximately 6.3 per cent of the global disease burden.

Health officials say the scale of the challenge is compounded by gaps in detection and treatment, with thousands of cases going undiagnosed each year. Despite progress, Pakistan continues to face significant hurdles in controlling the spread of the disease, particularly in underserved and vulnerable populations.