Health minister says 366,000 people living with HIV in Pakistan

Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has informed the National Assembly that an estimated 366,000 people in Pakistan are living with HIV.

Responding to a calling attention notice regarding the rise in HIV/AIDS cases, particularly among children, the minister said the repeated and unsafe use of syringes in some areas had been a major contributor to the spread of the virus.

Mustafa Kamal told lawmakers that approximately 84,000 people are currently registered at antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres across the country. He added that HIV screening efforts have expanded significantly, with the number of people screened increasing from 37,000 in 2020 to 372,000 in 2026.

The minister announced that the government plans to launch a dedicated helpline to provide guidance and information related to HIV.

He further noted that of the 611 HIV cases reported in Islamabad, only around 200 involved residents of the federal capital, while the remaining cases were linked to people from other parts of the country.

Emphasizing the availability of treatment, Mustafa Kamal said HIV should not be viewed as an untreatable disease, as medicines and medical care are accessible. He added that the government is paying special attention to addressing HIV/AIDS and referenced the HIV cases reported in Taunsa in 2024, while clarifying that no outbreak had occurred in Islamabad.