Cardiovascular disease has emerged as the leading cause of death in the country, claiming nearly 400,000 lives annually and accounting for over 30% of all fatalities.
Alarmed by the growing crisis, health experts and policymakers have called for urgent, nationwide reforms to prioritise prevention, early detection, and equitable access to care, particularly in underserved regions.
“Pakistan is facing a cardiovascular emergency. What’s deeply concerning is the increasing number of patients in their 30s and 40s presenting with advanced coronary artery disease,” said Dr Raj Kumar, President of the Pakistan Cardiac Society (PCS).
“This is not only a public health challenge but a national development issue — a sick workforce cannot carry the nation forward”.
Dr Kumar underscored that sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and lack of awareness around heart health were key contributors to the worsening situation.
