Breastfeeding Decline Puts Pakistan’s Economy and Infant Health at Risk

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mukhtar Bharath, has said that breast milk is the best and most natural source of nutrition for infants, stressing that the declining tradition of breastfeeding is placing an increasing burden on Pakistan’s economy.

Speaking at a seminar in Islamabad, Dr. Bharath stated that the government is taking serious steps to improve child health and nutrition across the country. He said that members of parliament should also be made aware of the importance of breastfeeding and the laws that protect and promote it.

He added that the government is ensuring the enforcement of existing breastfeeding laws and will soon launch nationwide awareness campaigns for women, including those in Islamabad. “The lack of breastfeeding is not only affecting children’s health but also creating a long-term economic burden,” the minister said.

Health experts have revealed that only around 2,000 newborns in Pakistan truly require formula milk, yet billions of rupees are spent on commercial baby formula each year. They explained that formula milk should only be used for babies whose mothers have died during childbirth, suffer from serious illness, or cannot breastfeed due to rare metabolic disorders.

For all other infants, experts warn, replacing breast milk with formula is a severe medical negligence that can jeopardize the child’s life. Reports indicate that Pakistan witnesses around 6 million births annually, but fewer than 2,000 infants genuinely need an alternative to breast milk.

Despite this, the country spends over Rs. 110 billion annually on baby formula and processed infant food, a trend that experts describe as “deeply concerning and unnecessary.”

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According to health specialists, aggressive and unethical marketing by international baby formula companies is eroding the breastfeeding culture in Pakistan. Many hospitals and healthcare workers, they claim, are influenced through promotional incentives and gifts, which mislead mothers into choosing formula milk.

The experts warned that this growing industry is capitalizing on misinformation and undermining natural feeding practices that are vital for infant health.

Research indicates that Pakistan loses around $2.8 billion every year due to health complications, treatment costs, and developmental delays linked to the decline in breastfeeding.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that nearly half of all infant deaths in Pakistan are related to poor or insufficient breastfeeding practices. Formula milk often leads to diarrhea, pneumonia, and other preventable illnesses, claiming the lives of nearly 100,000 newborns each year.

Health experts emphasize that breast milk is a complete and living food, containing natural enzymes, antibodies, and immune cells that no formula can replicate. It also evolves with the baby’s growth and needs — something artificial milk can never match.

They urged the government to intensify its public awareness and enforcement efforts to protect breastfeeding culture and safeguard the health and future of Pakistan’s children.