Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 29 July 2025
UNIC-Islamabad
29 July 2025
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UNITED NATIONS
SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
MESSAGE FOR WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
30 July 2025
Human trafficking is a horrific crime and a gross violation of human rights. It is one of the fastest-growing forms of organized crime – run by ruthless networks that prey on vulnerability and profit from pain.
This is a brutal, highly organized enterprise built on deception, coercion and exploitation. And it is evolving rapidly.
Criminal groups are operating across borders with alarming speed and sophistication. They exploit legal loopholes, infiltrate legitimate industries and supply chains, take advantage of migration flows, and use technology to recruit, control and abuse – including through online sexual exploitation or forcing victims into cyber-scams.
We must respond with unity and urgency.
We can do so by breaking the business model that sustains human trafficking – ending impunity, cutting off illicit profits, and strengthening law enforcement and justice systems. Perpetrators must be held accountable.
We must also forge strong alliances -- with civil society, and the private sector including technology companies – to raise awareness and promote reporting channels to prevent exploitation and protect the vulnerable.
And we must strive to ensure justice for survivors, support the displaced, and tackle root causes – from poverty and inequality to conflict and climate disruption.
On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, let us act together to stand with victims, hold perpetrators to account and build a world where no one is bought, sold, or exploited.
***
WHO
PRESS RELEASE
Pakistan signs agreement with WHO to access free cancer medicines for 8000 children annually
Pakistan becomes the second country in the region to join the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, aiming to address the lack of treatment affecting at least 50% of pediatric patients and to increase their survival rate from 30% to 60% by 2030.
29, July 2025, Islamabad, Pakistan – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health formalized today Pakistan’s participation in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines (Global Platform) to provide quality-assured medicines – free of cost – to children affected by cancer in the country, where over 8000 new cases are diagnosed annually.
The agreement brings new hope to children suffering from the disease in Pakistan and aims to increase their survival rate from 30% to 60% by 2030. Limited access to treatment is one of the main factors behind the low survival rate in the country, compared to a survival rate of 80% in higher-income countries.
Pakistan is the second country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to join the Global Platform, co-founded in 2021 by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and WHO to provide an uninterrupted supply of certified cancer medicines to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The initiative works in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), that will be responsible for procuring medicines and delivering them to Pakistan.
In addition to the provision of medicines, WHO will continue to support Pakistan’s Ministry of Health and provincial authorities with technical guidance, resources, and operational support to fight childhood cancer.
The agreement, signed by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Dapeng Luo, will remain in force until 31 December 2027 and may be extended by written agreement of the parties.
“Today is a big day for Pakistan, because through this agreement we are going to receive medicines to treat children who have cancer. This is the way forward. We are thankful to WHO, the Global Platform, UNICEF, and all partners who have made this possible and give our children access to treatment to fight this disease. If we are able to save one life through this collaboration, we are saving mankind,” said Federal Health Minister Sayed Mustafa Kamal.
“No child affected by cancer should die because of lack of access to treatment, including quality-assured medicines. WHO will work side by side with the Ministry of Health and partners to save lives and leave no child behind, no matter where they live or who they are,” said WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Dapeng Luo.
It is estimated that 400 000 children develop cancer each year. Close to 90% of them live in LMICs, where survival rates are less than 30%, meaning 7 out of 10 children affected by cancer do not survive.
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About WHO
Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners, and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. We work with 194 Member States in 150+ locations – so everyone, everywhere, can attain the highest level of health. WHO has been present in Pakistan – founding member of the Organization – since 1960. For more information, visit https://www.emro.who.int/countries/pak/index.html. Follow WHO Pakistan on Twitter and Facebook.
About the Global Platform
The Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines was launched in 2021 by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and WHO, which jointly developed the initiative to complement the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, with UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization Strategic Fund serving as the procurement agents. The Global Platform aims to provide an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured cancer medicines to approximately 120 000 children in low- and middle-income countries in the next five years, with the expectation of scaling up supplies in future years. The Global Platform provides end-to-end support in consolidating global demand to shape the market and assists countries with the selection of medicines, development of treatment standards and the building of information systems to track that effective care is being provided.
For additional information, please contact:
Maryam Yunus, National Professional Officer – Communications, WHO Pakistan, yun...@who.int
José Ignacio Martín Galán, Head of Communications, WHO Pakistan, joma...@who.int
Pakistan and WHO launch National Cholera Plan targeting 90% mortality drop by 2030
The plan emphasizes the importance of preparedness for increasingly severe climate change-induced disasters such as the 2022 floods, which triggered over 370,000 suspected cases.
29 July 2025, Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) today launched the National Cholera Control Plan 2025–2028, targeting a 90% reduction in mortality by 2030 and preparing the country to prevent, detect and respond to cholera outbreaks in a context marked by severe climate change-induced disasters.
The multisectoral Plan, launched by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Dapeng Luo, emphasizes the importance of preparedness for natural hazards such as the 2022 floods, which triggered over 370 000 suspected cholera cases. Between January 2023 and July 2025, Pakistan reported an annual average of more than 21 000 suspected and 250 confirmed cases of cholera.
“This plan and its implementation in partnership with WHO is particularly relevant because health care does not start in the hospitals where we treat the patients who are already sick. Health care starts with prevention in every neighborhood, in every community, so people do not get sick. For this, preventing water-borne diseases is particularly important,” said Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal.
“Climate change is increasing the risks of floods and other natural disasters that can trigger cholera outbreaks. Without effective prevention, detection and response, cholera can be a major public health threat, particularly for the most vulnerable who have no access to safe water and sanitation. WHO is proud to continue to partner with Pakistan in this effort to save lives”, said Dr Luo.
The Plan engages international, national and provincial stakeholders to strengthen structures and capacities across 8 main pillars: 1) governance/leadership and coordination; 2) disease surveillance and laboratory diagnostics; 3) case management and infection prevention and control; 4) water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); 5) risk communication and community engagement; 6) vaccination; 7) operational support and logistics; and 8) continuity of essential health and social services.
Pakistan committed to the 71st World Health Assembly resolution (WHA71.4), which urges the 47 Member States still affected by cholera to develop national plans to achieve the global goals of reducing cholera deaths by 90% and eliminating cholera in up to 20 countries by 2030, in compliance with International Health Regulations and the agenda set by the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC). WHO holds the secretariat of the GTFCC, a partnership of governmental and nongovernmental organizations, UN agencies and academic institutions with a common mission to reduce the global cholera burden.
A public health threat affecting the most vulnerable
Cholera is an acute infection caused by ingesting the bacteria Vibrio cholerae present in contaminated water or food, resulting in life-threatening diarrhoea that requires urgent medical treatment. In Pakistan, cholera is a notifiable endemic illness. The majority of cases are detected in heavily populated metropolitan areas with poor access to clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.
It is estimated that cholera affects 1.3 to 4 million people annually, causing between 21 000 and 143 000 deaths worldwide.
About WHO
Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. We work with 194 Member States in 150+ locations – so everyone, everywhere, can attain the highest level of health. WHO has been present in Pakistan – a founding member of the Organization – since 1960. For more information, visit https://www.emro.who.int/countries/pak/index.html. Follow WHO Pakistan on Twitter and Facebook.
For additional information, please contact:
José Ignacio Martín Galán, Head of Communications, WHO Pakistan, joma...@who.int
Maryam Yunus, National Professional Officer – Communications, WHO Pakistan, yun...@who.int
