Pakistan has been ranked highest and appears worst in stillbirths’ rate according to the recent
global estimates. Reasons could be manifold; socio-cultural, health system related country
specific, and some of these of course déjà vu, i.e., the biomedical causes. Yet, a fresh stocktaking
is necessary to understand the complex phenomenon in a country, awfully affected by this menace.
Maternal, neonatal and child health program needs to be informed and geared up toward
addressing the actual reasons behind this heavy toll of stillbirths in Pakistan. Maternal health
indicators would never be improved, if the issue of stillbirths is not stalled at the earliest. Besides
known medical reasons, this account attempts to document the health systems related factors, and
more so the social determinants behind the whole scenario, so that appropriate and customized
interventions could be suggested, developed and implemented. This paper will be a piece of
evidence for policy corridors, program managers, development partners, non-governmental
organizations, public health institutions, students, and researchers to enhance their understanding
of a major public health problem, and to recognize the strengths and opportunities in the health
system of Pakistan to cope with this challenge.