Pakistan has successfully developed its 2nd National Action Plan (NAP) on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which will be active to 2028.

AMR presents a growing threat to global health, food safety, and sustainable development. Recognizing the urgent need to address this challenge, as reconfirmed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance 2024, the FAO-supported Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT) project has extended vital support to the Government of Pakistan in strengthening its response.

This revised NAP aims to enhance governance, improve data submission mechanisms, and strengthen interventions in the food, animal health, and environmental sectors. A key advancement in this revision is the great emphasis on the food sector and enhanced interventions in animal health, which were previously underrepresented. This achievement has been possible with the strong leadership of Pakistan’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Muhammad Akram, in collaboration with national regulatory bodies, academia, scientific experts, and international organizations.

The implementation of the ACT project in Pakistan has played a pivotal role in this progress, ensuring alignment with international standards, particularly Codex Alimentarius AMR texts. The project has also been instrumental in providing technical assistance, capacity-building initiatives, and policy guidance to integrate a holistic, One Health approach to tackling AMR. These measures will protect consumers and bolster Pakistan’s agri-food trade opportunities.

At a workshop held to facilitate development of the NAP, the FAO Representative in Pakistan, Florence Rolle, highlighted the importance of a coordinated One Health approach, urging all stakeholders to contribute actively to ensuring sustainable AMR containment efforts. Muhammad Akram, in his remarks at the workshop, acknowledged the progress made in AMR mitigation and stressed the necessity of strengthening data-sharing mechanisms and aligning national policies with global standards.

Environmental AMR contamination is an emerging concern, necessitating targeted interventions. The ACT project has assisted Pakistan in identifying critical control points for AMR spread through water, soil, and waste management systems. The revised NAP now incorporates monitoring programmes to assess antimicrobial residues in environmental sources and recommends policy actions to mitigate AMR transmission from agricultural runoff and wastewater treatment plants.

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The ACT project
ACT in Pakistan