A team from the Global Fund is set to visit Islamabad to assess the escalating HIV cases in Pakistan. The visit gains significance following reports of over 300 HIV cases in children due to syringe reuse in Taunsa and 618 new cases in Islamabad between January 2025 and March 2026. Pakistani health officials, including a senior ministry representative, confirmed the upcoming visit for a comprehensive review of the situation.
Zafar Mirza, a former special health advisor to Pakistan’s Prime Minister, highlighted contaminated syringes and inadequate blood screening as key factors in the disease’s spread. In response to the impending visit, Pakistan’s health ministry has instructed relevant authorities to devise a strategy to prevent HIV transmission, particularly through syringe reuse. The Global Fund, known for its substantial investments in combating HIV, TB, and malaria, has allocated over USD 1 billion to Pakistan in the last twenty years.
Medical experts at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences’ HIV Centre expressed concerns over the rising patient numbers, especially among children. They emphasized the need for increased testing to prevent disease cover-ups and highlighted the risks associated with undiagnosed cases, particularly among men. The AIDS Control Programme’s Programme Manager, Zubair Abdullah, attributed the surge in reported cases to more individuals seeking testing, stressing the importance of public education on HIV prevention measures.
Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services data revealed a total of 189 registered HIV-positive cases since October 2025, with 11 new cases reported in the first 20 days of April. The majority of cases were male, with instances also identified among transgender individuals. The persistence of HIV cases in children remains a significant concern, underscoring the ongoing challenges in disease control efforts.
