As Pakistan navigates a complex tapestry of cultural norms, economic disparities, and climate pressures, the state of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) remains a pressing yet underexplored frontier. With a population exceeding 240 million and a youthful demographic driving its future, the nation grapples with SRHR challenges that hinder health equity and gender justice. A recent survey conducted by THINK TANK JOURNAL in August 2025, engaging nearly 4,000 women and men across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Sindh, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) & Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), lays bare the stark reality: 87% lack awareness of SRHR, 89% see no impact on their lives, and 88% report no guidance from government or NGOs.
The Current State of SRHR:
The 2025 survey paints a grim picture of SRHR awareness and engagement. Of the 4,000 respondents—split across Pakistan’s diverse provinces—only 3% could define SRHR, a fundamental human right encompassing access to healthcare, education, and autonomy over reproductive choices. A staggering 87% admitted ignorance, reflecting a deep knowledge gap. On impact, 89% dismissed SRHR’s relevance to their lives, with just 2% recognizing its profound influence—potentially on maternal health, family planning, or gender-based violence (GBV) prevention. Information access fares no better: 88% reported no outreach from government or NGOs, with a mere 1% recalling a single instance of education. These figures, drawn from Punjab’s urban hubs, KPK’s rugged terrains, Sindh’s flood-prone deltas, and AJK & GB’s remote valleys, underscore a national crisis in SRHR comprehension and support.
This data aligns with broader trends. Pakistan ranks near the bottom globally on gender equality indices, with UNFPA noting 28% of women aged 15-49 experiencing physical violence and a fertility rate of 3.8 children per woman. Yet, the survey’s low awareness suggests a disconnect between policy goals—like the National Gender Policy Framework—and grassroots reality, raising questions about implementation efficacy.
Key Challenges:
Several barriers entangle SRHR progress in Pakistan, illuminated by the survey and contextual evidence. First, cultural taboos stifle open dialogue. In rural Punjab and KPK, where 55% of women reside per DHS 2017-18, SRHR topics are deemed sensitive, limiting education efforts. The survey’s 87% unawareness echoes qualitative studies from Chitral and Bahawalpur, where social norms restrict adolescent access to SRHR information.
Second, healthcare infrastructure lags. With maternal mortality at 186 per 100,000 live births (UNICEF 2025), and only 25% of married women using modern contraceptives nationally, services are patchy—especially in Sindh’s flood-hit areas and GB’s isolated regions. The 88% reporting no government or NGO outreach hints at underfunded programs, with NGOs like Rahnuma-FPAP facing resource constraints despite disaster preparedness initiatives.
Third, gender disparities fuel inequity. The survey’s 89% denial of SRHR impact may reflect patriarchal attitudes, where women’s reproductive autonomy is undervalued. In AJK & GB, low female literacy (below 40% per World Bank 2025) correlates with reduced healthcare access, while Punjab’s higher contraceptive use (34.3%) contrasts with Balochistan’s 6.9%, per rural health studies.
Finally, policy gaps persist. Despite commitments to SDG 5 and Vision 2025’s contraceptive prevalence target of 50%, the 1% awareness from official sources suggests a top-down approach disconnected from communities. Critics argue this reflects political inertia or religious resistance, as seen in past media backlash against SRHR curricula in Punjab and Sindh.
A Call for Critical Reflection
The survey results demand scrutiny beyond surface statistics. The 87% unawareness of SRHR—spanning educated urbanites and rural dwellers—challenges the narrative that awareness campaigns have gained traction. Could this reflect flawed delivery, where urban-focused efforts miss rural majorities? Or does it signal a deeper cultural rejection of SRHR framing, favoring traditional family planning over rights-based language?
The 89% who see no life impact may overlook indirect effects—unmet family planning needs drive 18.9 million child marriages (UNICEF 2025), while GBV, affecting 34% of ever-married women, ties to reproductive health risks. This disconnect suggests a need for tailored messaging, linking SRHR to tangible outcomes like maternal survival or economic empowerment, rather than abstract rights.
The 88% lack of government or NGO outreach exposes a systemic failure. With NGOs like Aahung reaching 500,000 students yet facing resistance, and government efforts diluted by security crises (e.g., Balochistan’s internet shutdowns in 2025), the 1% awareness peak hints at sporadic, not sustained, intervention. Is the establishment overpromising on policy while underdelivering on execution?
Broader Implications:
These challenges ripple across health, gender, and development. Low SRHR awareness perpetuates high maternal and infant mortality, with KPK and Sindh bearing flood-related burdens. Gender inequity, reinforced by limited education, stalls economic growth—Pakistan loses 2% GDP annually to gender gaps (World Bank 2025). Yet, pockets of progress, like Punjab’s outreach services, suggest potential if scaled.
The establishment narrative—promoting SRHR as a development cornerstone—clashes with ground realities. Rather than accepting policy rhetoric, a bottom-up approach is needed: community-led education, leveraging local leaders, and integrating SRHR into school curricula, as recommended in Lahore studies. NGOs could bridge gaps with mobile clinics, while government accountability must rise, ensuring funds reach beyond urban elites.
Awakening to SRHR’s Potential
As of August 26, 2025, Pakistan’s SRHR landscape reveals a stark divide between policy intent and public reality. The survey of 4,000 samples across Punjab, KPK, Sindh, and AJK & GB exposes 87% unawareness, 89% perceived irrelevance, and 88% lack of outreach—a clarion call to rethink strategies. Cultural taboos, healthcare deficits, gender biases, and policy disconnects form a formidable web, but targeted, inclusive action can unravel it. The time is now to transform SRHR from an unknown concept into a lived right, reshaping Pakistan’s future one informed choice at a time.
