That change interval is for cars that are used mostly for highway/expressway drives, and minimum 8 km journeys. I wouldn't hesitate to use it if those were the driving conditions for my car.
Xcel, PaleMelenesian, Basjoos and a few others of cleanmpg use longer drain intervals for their cars: 15k miles, 10k miles, and 10k miles against the manual's recommendation of 10k miles, 7.5k miles, and 7.5k miles respectively. Their cars have lasted more than 150k miles, 200k miles, and 500k miles while still beating fuel economy records.
When GM developed their oil life monitoring system, they tested it on a Corvette. The oil lasted 100k miles: pure highway driving at 50 mph and ~1000 rpm, and minimum cold starts. Driving conditions are a huge factor that determine the OCI.
You are partly right though. Most vehicles in Pakistan used for short journeys; 5000 km is enough for them.