Four in 10 children aged between 12 and 36 months living in high-risk areas across seven cities in Pakistanhave lead in their blood, a joint study by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and UNICEF has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, UNICEF said that exposure to lead can affect physical and cognitive development, causing anaemia, weakening the immune system, lowering IQ, and affecting attention and memory.
The study surveyed more than 2,100 children in industrial areas of Haripur, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Rawalpindi. It found variation across locations, with Hattar in Haripur reporting the highest levels, where 88 per cent of children had elevated lead levels, compared to 1 per cent in Islamabad.
Secretary Health Muhammad Aslam Ghauri said: “Protecting children from lead exposure is a national public health priority. The evidence highlights the urgent need for coordinated action across health, environment, and regulatory systems. The government is committed to strengthening surveillance, improving enforcement of standards, and integrating prevention into child health programmes nationwide”.
The study pointed to multiple sources of exposure, including industrial emissions, informal battery recycling, lead-based paints, contaminated food and spices, and traditional cosmetics. It noted that risks remain due to gaps in regulation, monitoring, and public awareness.
Global estimates indicate that up to eight in 10 children in Pakistan may be affected, placing the country among those with the highest exposure levels. The report linked lead exposure to reduced learning outcomes and economic losses estimated between 6 to 8 percent of GDP, or $25 to $35 billion annually.
UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside said: “Children can absorb up to five times more lead than adults, making them especially vulnerable. Lead affects every system in the body, but its impact on developing brains can be devastating and lifelong. There is no safe level of exposure to lead for children whose harmful effects are irreversible. Unicef is committed to strengthening evidence, advancing environmental health, and driving multi-sectoral action to protect children from this toxic threat”.
Officials said that the findings were reviewed at a high-level meeting attended by key stakeholders, where priority actions were discussed, with emphasis on coordination across sectors.
