Young, inexperienced MNA represents Pakistan at global TB forum

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Bali, Indonesia: Pakistan’s seriousness in addressing its escalating tuberculosis (TB) crisis came under scrutiny after a 25-year-old Member of the National Assembly (MNA), with no medical background or public health expertise, represented the country at a global forum on TB.

Nawabzada Jamal Khan Raisani, elected from Balochistan on political grounds, read a prepared statement at the World Health Organization (WHO) symposium in Bali, leaving health experts questioning the government’s approach to tackling a disease that claims thousands of lives annually.

Pakistan is among the five countries worst affected by TB globally, reporting nearly 600,000 new cases every year. Yet, the disease remains low on the government’s priority list, despite the availability of significant international funding from organizations such as the Global Fund.

The absence of a permanent, merit-based appointment to head the National TB Control Program has further exacerbated the issue, leaving the fight against TB fragmented and under-resourced.

“Sending a young, inexperienced politician to an international forum reflects poorly on Pakistan’s commitment to addressing one of its most pressing public health challenges,” said a senior public health official. “TB is no longer just a medical issue; it’s a looming health catastrophe, and such non-serious representation raises doubts about our ability to combat it effectively.”

The WHO-hosted symposium brought together ministers and parliamentarians from 158 countries to discuss strategies for ending TB. During a panel discussion, Raisani joined health ministers from Indonesia and Timor and an Australian MP to deliberate on action plans for eradicating TB.

While Raisani emphasized the role of youth in combating TB through community-driven initiatives and awareness campaigns, his lack of technical knowledge and experience on the subject was evident.

He spoke about encouraging early diagnosis and mobilizing local teams in Balochistan but failed to address Pakistan’s systemic issues, including the rise of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) TB.

TB has become a ticking time bomb in Pakistan, with experts warning that the country is on the brink of an XDR TB epidemic. If current trends continue, drug-resistant strains of the disease could render available treatments ineffective, leading to higher mortality rates.

“Pakistan’s inability to prioritize TB control could mean thousands more lives lost to a preventable and treatable disease,” said an epidemiologist. “This crisis requires leadership and expertise, not symbolic gestures.”

The government’s current approach to TB could have devastating consequences. Without robust leadership and merit-based appointments, efforts to curb TB risk being derailed by inefficiency and mismanagement. The rise of XDR TB could also cripple the country’s already strained healthcare system, burdening families with unaffordable treatment costs and reducing life expectancy.

Health experts stress that Pakistan must adopt evidence-driven policies, appoint qualified professionals to lead its TB control program, and focus on public health awareness campaigns to counter stigma and improve early diagnosis.

“The stakes are too high for Pakistan to continue treating TB as a secondary issue,” warned a senior health journalist. “Our health policies should reflect the urgency of the crisis, and our representation on global platforms must be credible and informed.”

As Pakistan faces mounting challenges from TB and other infectious diseases, its actions—or lack thereof—will determine whether it can overcome one of its most significant public health crises or succumb to preventable devastation.

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