Pakistan’s leading public health experts and infectious disease specialists have called on the government to launch the country’s first nationwide HIV prevalence survey, warning that the virus is no longer confined to high-risk groups and that authorities lack reliable data on the true extent of the epidemic.
The appeal comes as Pakistan continues to record a steady increase in HIV infections, with experts stressing that better surveillance is essential for planning effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Experts warn of growing public health emergency
Vice Chancellor of the Health Services Academy, Prof Shahzad Ali Khan, described the situation as a significant public health concern, highlighting that 729 children were diagnosed with HIV in Sindh during the first six months of 2026.
According to him, the growing number of infections among children points to the need for immediate epidemiological investigations to identify the sources of transmission and prevent further spread.
Prof Khan said poor infection prevention and control practices remain major contributing factors, including:
- Reuse of syringes
- Unsafe intravenous drip sets and cannulas
- Inadequately screened blood transfusions
He warned that HIV is increasingly moving beyond traditional high-risk populations into the wider community through what experts describe as a “bridging population.”
Nationwide survey needed to determine true prevalence
Health experts argued that Pakistan cannot rely solely on routine surveillance or testing among high-risk groups.
Prof Khan recommended launching comprehensive epidemiological investigations, expanding HIV screening, introducing self-testing where appropriate, increasing public awareness campaigns, and strengthening contact tracing efforts similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also suggested reviewing previous HIV outbreaks across Pakistan to better understand transmission patterns and identify hotspots for targeted interventions.
Rising cases highlight need for improved surveillance
Renowned physician Prof Javed Akram said HIV has been spreading quietly in Pakistan for decades and that the recent increase in reported cases is partly due to expanded testing.
“We are now detecting more HIV cases because testing has increased. The virus has been spreading quietly for decades, but we still do not know its actual prevalence in the population,” he said.
He urged both federal and provincial governments to prioritise a nationwide HIV prevalence survey despite limited resources, saying identifying infected individuals and linking them to treatment would help reduce future transmission.
Injection Culture and Weak Enforcement Driving HIV Outbreaks in Pakistan
Pakistan continues to report increasing HIV infections
Official data shows Pakistan registered 14,182 new HIV cases during 2025, while more than 8,000 additional cases have already been reported in the first half of 2026.
Health experts are particularly concerned about the growing number of infections among children in Sindh and Punjab, raising concerns that transmission is extending beyond traditionally vulnerable groups.
Stronger regulation of healthcare facilities urged
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Faisal Mahmood of Aga Khan University stressed the need for stronger regulation of private and informal healthcare facilities.
He said sustainable improvements in injection safety require:
- Better regulation of healthcare providers
- Improved education for general practitioners
- Wider adoption of safe injection practices
- Stronger oversight of blood transfusion services
Dr Mahmood also recommended expanding targeted HIV testing among hospitalised children where appropriate while acknowledging that limited healthcare resources require careful prioritisation.
Experts call for long-term HIV response
Public health specialists agreed that Pakistan’s HIV strategy should move beyond responding to outbreaks and instead focus on identifying hidden infections, strengthening disease surveillance, improving infection prevention and control, ensuring safe blood transfusions, and expanding access to testing and antiretroviral treatment before the virus spreads further into the general population.
