A recent health screening camp held on Pakistan’s Sukkur–Multan Motorway (M-5) has revealed a concerning public health crisis among drivers traveling the country’s highways.
Nearly one in every three individuals screened was found to have hypertension, while similar numbers showed signs of diabetes and high cholesterol.
The screening event, jointly organized by local pharmaceutical company Pharmevo and the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) under the “Discovering Hypertension” and “Discovering Diabetes” initiatives, was held at the Rohri Service Area.
It offered free health testing to both public and private vehicle drivers. Of the 120 individuals screened, 30 percent were diagnosed with high blood pressure, around 29 percent had elevated blood sugar levels, and 6.7 percent had high cholesterol.
Disturbingly, many were unaware of their condition prior to the screening. The findings underscore a silent but growing health crisis, particularly among middle-aged drivers who often lack access to routine medical care.
The average age of those screened was in the mid-40s—an economically active group now facing early-onset non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Pharmevo officials noted that for most participants, it was their first time being tested for such conditions.
