Scientists sound alarm over Pakistan’s antibiotic crisis

At KU awareness week, specialists highlight rising resistance, misuse of antibiotics and gaps in policy

KARACHI: As the world edges towards a future where routine infections may once again become deadly, experts at a seminar held at the University of Karachi (KU) have warned that Pakistan is already witnessing the tremors of a looming medical emergency i.e. the rapid rise of antibiotic resistance.

“If global trends remain unchanged, drug-resistant infections could overtake all other causes of death by 2050—driving the economic burden from today’s USD 66 billion to an alarming USD 159 billion,” a KU press release quoted the speakers as saying.

KU’s Department of Microbiology organised the seminar, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) during the United Nations–declared Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week. Featuring the talks, panel discussion and student competitions, experts urged immediate action to enhance the public understanding of how human behaviour is accelerating antimicrobial resistance crisis.

Acting Vice Chancellor KU Professor Dr Muhammad Haris Shoaib stressed that the first line of defence begins with rational prescription. “Completing the full course of antibiotics is critically important,” he reminded, adding that their misuse—especially for viral infections where they offer no benefit—is driving resistance to dangerous levels.

He highlighted how the problem extends far beyond clinics. Pharmaceutical waste entering water bodies, indiscriminate drug use in crops and livestock, and growth-accelerating injections in animals have collectively fostered conditions in which superbugs—bacteria resistant to even the strongest antibiotics—are thriving.

Director International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) Professor Dr Raza Shah pointed to “passive exposure” as an overlooked contributor. His team’s research has detected antibiotic traces at multiple points along the Indus River, serving as constant low-level pressure that nudges bacteria towards resistance. He revealed and suggested that transforming antibiotics into nano-formulations may offer new treatment possibilities for hard-to-treat infections.

Other experts highlighted the clinical consequences already unfolding. Dr Ambreen Fatima from Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) discussed the heightened vulnerability of transplant patients—whose immune systems are suppressed by medication—to resistant infections. She warned of the quietly growing epidemic of extreme drug-resistant Salmonella Typhi, the bacterium responsible for typhoid.

Aga Khan University’s infectious diseases consultant Dr Kiran Habib traced the historical arc of resistance and warned of the severe slowdown in new antibiotic discovery, making stewardship not just advisable but urgent. She outlined strategies needed to prevent further spread, calling stewardship “a shared responsibility across sectors.”

From the FAO, Dr Noman Ali spoke about the ongoing efforts to raise awareness among livestock communities and emphasised the need for practical, enforceable policies to preserve the effectiveness of existing drugs.

At the panel discussion, specialists from KU, DUHS, Searle, Sindh Institute of Animal Health and other institutions concluded that the way forward is to integrate public-private partnerships, “One Health” approaches, and collaborative research.

In her welcome remarks, chief organiser of the event Professor Dr Nusrat Jabeen underscored the significance of the awareness week.

Students rounded off the event with posters, flyers and short video reels, creatively illustrating the dangers of antibiotic misuse and the mounting spread of drug-resistant bacteria—a reminder that the fight against antibiotic resistance begins with awareness, but must end with collective action, the KU statement concluded.

Report courtesy: Social Track, Karachi.

Photos courtesy: KU