On 4 November 2025 a high-level meeting at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination reviewed the recent rise in HIV cases and agreed on measures to strengthen Pakistan’s HIV response. The session was coordinated by the Common Management Unit and brought together representatives from UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and civil society organisations including APLHIV and Nai Zindagi.
The meeting, chaired by the Additional Secretary of the Ministry, took place under the guidance of the Honourable Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal and the Secretary Health. The Additional Secretary expressed concern about the upward trend in detections, reaffirmed that HIV prevention and control remain top national priorities, and pledged to personally chair follow-up sessions to ensure sustained leadership and accountability in the HIV response.
The Director General Health urged integration of HIV services into existing public health programmes, stronger provincial ownership and data-driven planning to guide interventions. The Deputy National Coordinator of the HIV-CMU presented updated data showing increased case detections linked to enhanced screening and testing efforts, and briefed participants on the Opioid Agonist Maintenance Therapy programme scheduled to launch in December as part of harm reduction components of the HIV response.
Acting on directions from the Federal Minister, the Ministry announced the formation of a Technical Working Group led by the Director General Health with representation from provincial health departments, UN partners and community organisations. The TWG will draft a concise HIV Response Strategy prioritising service integration, mobilising domestic funding and increasing provincial participation to ensure sustainable implementation across Pakistan.
Planned measures emphasise routine HIV testing within Hepatitis and maternal and child health services, strengthened blood safety and infection control practices, and a responsible media communication approach to raise awareness and reduce stigma. Participants highlighted the need for clear provincial plans and transparent data sharing to make the HIV response more effective at local level.
In closing, the Additional Secretary reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to a coordinated, transparent and sustainable HIV response, stressing that progress will depend on collective action, strong provincial leadership and continued engagement with international partners and community groups.
