ISLAMABAD:
A new study has found alarming levels of lead exposure among young children in Pakistan: four in ten children aged 12 to 36 months living in high-risk urban areas have lead in their blood, posing serious risks to their physical and cognitive development.
The study, jointly conducted by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (M/o NHSR&C) and UNICEF, assessed over 2,100 children in high-risk industrial areas of seven cities, including Haripur, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi.
The study found stark geographical disparities, with Hattar in Haripur reporting the highest prevalence, where 88% of children had elevated blood lead levels, compared to just 1% in Islamabad.
Exposure to lead, the report warns, can stunt growth, cause anemia, weaken the immune system and significantly impair cognitive development, lowering IQ, reducing attention span and affecting memory, increasing the risk of learning difficulties and behavioral problems.
Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, Federal Secretary for Health at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, said protecting children from lead exposure was a national public health priority.
He stressed that the evidence highlights the urgent need for coordinated action across health, environmental and regulatory systems. He added that the government was committed to strengthening surveillance, improving enforcement of standards and integrating prevention into child health programs nationwide.
The study identified several potential sources of lead exposure, drawing on global evidence, including industrial emissions, informal battery recycling, lead-based paints, contaminated foods and spices, and traditional cosmetics. He noted that exposure risks persist due to gaps in regulatory enforcement, monitoring and public awareness.
Global estimates suggest the scale of the problem could be much greater, with up to eight in 10 children in Pakistan potentially affected, a rate among the highest in the world.
The report links lead exposure not only to developmental harm, but also to long-term economic losses, estimated at 6 to 8 percent of GDP, or $25 billion to $35 billion per year.
“Children can absorb up to five times more lead than adults, making them particularly vulnerable. Lead affects all systems of the body, but its impact on brain development can be devastating and persist for a lifetime. There is no safe level of exposure to lead for children whose harmful effects are irreversible. UNICEF is committed to strengthening the evidence base, advancing environmental health and leading multisectoral action to protect children from this toxic threat.” said Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan.
