In Pakistan, only 48.4% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, falling short of the World Health Assembly’s 2030 target of 60%. This gap is linked to an estimated annual loss of US$ 2.8 billion due to the negative health and economic impacts of low breastfeeding rates, according to Nutrition International’s Cost of Not Breastfeeding Tool. The shortfall contributes to over 33,700 deaths, 6.6 million cases of child diarrhoea, and 2.7 million school years lost annually. Additionally, the country spends more than US$ 888 million each year on breastmilk substitutes, which are less beneficial for infant health.
Marking the close of World Breastfeeding Week 2025 under the theme “Prioritize breastfeeding: Create sustainable support systems,” the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized that breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure a baby’s health, development, and survival in early life. Breast milk serves as a baby’s first vaccine, protecting against diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia. WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Dapeng Luo, stressed that investing in breastfeeding promotion is an investment in a healthier nation, generating US$ 35 in economic returns for every dollar spent.
Since January 2024, WHO, in partnership with the Government of Pakistan and other stakeholders, has undertaken significant initiatives to promote breastfeeding. These include counselling over 172,000 mothers in 157 nutrition stabilization centres, training more than 700 healthcare professionals, supporting the Sindh Protection and Promotion of Breastfeeding and Young Child Nutrition Act (2023), establishing lactation management rooms, developing feeding guidelines and training packages, and advancing the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.
