World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS have issued a stark warning that Pakistan is now home to one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the Eastern Mediterranean region. According to data shared on World AIDS Day, new HIV infections in the country have surged by 200 percent over the past 15 years — climbing from around 16,000 in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024.
The rise in infections, once largely confined to high-risk groups, now increasingly affects children, spouses and the wider community. Unsafe blood transfusions, reuse of syringes, inadequate infection-control practices, insufficient testing during prenatal care, unprotected sex, stigma and limited access to HIV-related health services are being cited as key drivers.
Health officials estimate that around 350,000 people are living with HIV in Pakistan — but nearly 80 percent of them are unaware of their status. Alarmingly, among children aged 0–14, new cases have jumped from 530 in 2010 to about 1,800 in 2023.
In response to the escalation, Pakistan has expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The number of individuals receiving ART has increased eightfold over the last decade, from roughly 6,500 in 2013 to 55,500 in 2024. The number of treatment centers also rose from 13 in 2010 to 95 by 2025.
Yet, progress remains insufficient. In 2024, only about 21 percent of people living with HIV knew their status; among those, 16 percent were on treatment, and just 7 percent had achieved viral load suppression. That year, there were over 1,100 recorded AIDS-related deaths.
Health authorities and international agencies have called for a coordinated and urgent response — combining community engagement, improved infection-control protocols, expanded testing coverage, and better access to treatment and preventive care. As Pakistan grapples with this escalating public-health crisis, experts say only sustained, inclusive action can steer the country away from becoming a generalized HIV epidemic.
