Health minister says 61,000 HIV patients receiving treatment across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has registered 84,000 HIV/AIDS patients across the country, with approximately 61,000 currently receiving medical treatment, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal informed the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Speaking on a calling attention notice moved by lawmaker Zahra Wadood Fatemi regarding a reported surge in HIV cases among children, Kamal said that while the government is working on new legislation to combat the virus, provincial authorities must do more to regulate quack doctors and hospitals.

He said that health authorities have screened 372,000 individuals during the 2025-26 period to identify new cases.

He said that the government has initiated screenings at airports to monitor individuals arriving from abroad, noting that many travelers lack mandatory screening stamps on their passports.

There are 618 registered HIV cases in the federal capital, though 408 of these patients are not local residents, he said.

The minister clarified that of the 210 HIV-affected residents in Islamabad, no children are currently included in that figure.

Kamal noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a special committee to investigate specific outbreaks reported in Taunsa and Islamabad.

He attributed the spread of the virus primarily to the misuse of syringes and “social evils,” including drug use at private parties.

“AIDS is not incurable; it is a manageable disease,” Kamal stated, adding that patients can lead normal lives with consistent medication. He stressed the need for increased public awareness regarding the risks of contaminated needles.

The minister concluded by stating that federal and provincial governments are collaborating on prevention strategies, though he reiterated that the monitoring of local clinics remains a provincial responsibility.