Pakistan has registered 3,900 HIV-positive children between January 2025 and June 2026, highlighting growing concerns about unsafe medical practices, inadequate healthcare monitoring and gaps in infection prevention. The estimated number of people living with HIV in the country has reached 417,214, according to figures shared by Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal in a written reply to the National Assembly.
The figures were provided in response to a question raised by Dr Sharmila Faruqui. Sindh recorded the highest number of registered child cases at 1,915, followed by Punjab with 1,765. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 139 cases, Balochistan 46, Islamabad 30, Azad Jammu and Kashmir four, and Gilgit-Baltistan one.
The government identified unsafe injections, reuse of syringes and medical equipment, inadequately screened blood transfusions and weak infection-control practices as major factors linked to recent HIV outbreaks. These concerns have renewed questions about healthcare facility inspections and the enforcement of medical safety standards, particularly where children receive treatment.
According to the minister’s reply, Pakistan’s HIV epidemic remains classified as concentrated, with the infection rate among the overall population below 0.1 percent. However, figures cited from the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS show that annual new infections increased from approximately 16,000 in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024.
The government estimated that 417,214 people were living with HIV as of September 22, 2026. However, only 92,148 people were registered with the national programme, while 67,878 were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Authorities have identified expanded testing, patient registration and timely access to treatment as key priorities.
HIV testing has increased significantly, rising from 37,944 tests in 2020 to 374,126 in 2025. The government has also increased the number of antiretroviral treatment centres from 98 to 113 nationwide. During 2026, 15 additional centres were established in Sindh, including a new facility at Valika Hospital in Karachi.
Several measures have been announced to improve medical safety and prevent further infections. The federal health minister has directed authorities to strengthen mandatory HIV screening before surgical procedures, while provincial health departments and healthcare regulators have been instructed to improve screening arrangements in public and private hospitals.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has also approved a phased transition away from conventional syringes up to 10cc. Under a decision taken by its Medical Devices Board on July 9, 2026, restrictions will take effect from January 1, 2027, requiring healthcare providers to move towards safety-engineered syringes designed to prevent reuse.
At the provincial level, the Sindh government has announced a Rs2 billion Endowment Fund for the treatment, welfare, rehabilitation and long-term care of HIV-positive children and their families. The federal government is also working with UNICEF and social protection organisations to arrange nutritional, financial and other support for affected children.
A national digital system has been established to record HIV cases and monitor patients receiving treatment. Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan are connected to the system, while integration of Punjab’s data system remains in progress.
The digital platform is intended to help authorities monitor infections, follow up with patients who stop attending treatment centres and improve coordination between healthcare institutions. Despite these measures, the government has not announced a nationwide completion date for the system, while the implementation of safer syringe requirements remains a key part of its planned response.
