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Abstract
The issue of maternal healthcare highlights the stark reality between what the law states and the actual delivery of healthcare services in Pakistan. In spite of constitutional safeguards and internationally agreed-upon commitments, Pakistan is the worst in the South Asian region in terms of maternal mortality ratio (MMR). Other issues, including inaccessibility of skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric services, and social-cultural factors, are critical. Article 9 (right to life) and Article 38 (promotion of social and economic well-being) of the Constitution impose a constitutional obligation on the state to offer safe pregnancy and childbirth. Medical implications of healthcare infrastructure failures are that most causes of death are avoidable, such as haemorrhage and sepsis. This discussion suggests that the role of the state is not only to enact laws but also to proactively create an enabling environment by properly allocating resources, successfully implementing policies, and developing well-established systems of accountability to bridge the gap between policy and practice in the form of maternal health.