Challenges in biological science research in Pakistan

It seems almost frivolous to say that I do "biomedical science research" in a country with a literacy rate below 30%, where the per capita income is less than $800 per annum, the cost of good healthcare is far beyond the reach of the common citizen, and government health systems are both insufficient and ineffective. Pakistan has the 6th highest global burden of tuberculosis. The immediate concern of health care professionals remains diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Therefore, although there is a real need to conduct basic research in pathogenesis of tuberculosis infections in order to study and develop new prevention, treatment and diagnostic modalities, there is limited public appreciation of "high-tech" research.