Islamabad: Pakistan’s HIV response remains dangerously off track, with barely 21 percent of people living with HIV aware of their infection, only 16 percent on treatment, and just 8 percent achieving viral suppression, officials revealed on Monday.
Official data showed that around 13,000 new HIV cases were detected in Pakistan, while the estimated number of new infections may be as high as 48,000 in 2024. At least 1,100 AIDS-related deaths were recorded during the year, highlighting the widening gap between detection, treatment and prevention.
The figures were shared during a Youth Symposium marking World AIDS Day 2025 in Islamabad, jointly organised by the Ministry of National Health Services, UNAIDS, UNFPA, ACT International and development partners.
Officials acknowledged that while progress has been made in expanding treatment centres, Pakistan continues to face challenges including late diagnosis, low testing coverage and persistent stigma.
Health officials said that only around 12,000 people had tested positive for HIV by the end of November 2025, while new infections are estimated to be as high as 48,000 in the current year, adding that around 350,000 people are currently living with HIV in the country. They warned that undiagnosed infections are fuelling ongoing transmission, particularly among key and vulnerable populations.
Speaking at the event, Dr Luay Shabaneh, UNFPA Representative in Pakistan, said young people must be placed at the centre of the HIV response, noting that they make up nearly 64 percent of the country’s population. She cautioned, however, that Pakistan’s epidemic remains concentrated and largely hidden.
“The biggest threat to progress is not the virus itself, but the silence surrounding it,” she said, adding that stigma continues to discourage young people from seeking testing and people living with HIV from accessing life-saving treatment. “We cannot claim success until testing becomes normal and treatment is expected, not feared.”
Dr Shabaneh said that while global HIV infections are declining, Pakistan has witnessed repeated outbreaks, including among children, largely due to unsafe medical practices, delayed diagnosis and weak surveillance.
Mubashar Nabi, Founder President of ACT International, said HIV prevention efforts must go beyond awareness campaigns and focus on equipping young people with practical life skills. He highlighted the rollout of Life Skills-Based Education, approved by the Ministry of Education for Grades 1 to 12, describing it as a major policy milestone.
Under pilot programmes supported by UNFPA and ACT, more than 5,000 students have been reached, 4,675 teachers trained, 9,000 community members engaged, and 1,000 transgender youth provided sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention education.
Providing an overview of the national HIV response, Dr Abdul Wali, DG Health at the Ministry of National Health Services and Deputy National Coordinator at the Common Management Unit, said Pakistan has expanded access to antiretroviral therapy over the past decade.
He said the number of people receiving treatment increased from around 6,500 in 2013 to 55,500 in 2024, while the number of antiretroviral therapy centres rose from 13 in 2010 to 96 by 2025.
Despite these gains, he said nearly eight out of ten people living with HIV remain undiagnosed, warning that children are increasingly being affected. New HIV cases among those aged 0 to 14 years increased from 530 in 2010 to 1,800 in 2023.
Addressing the gathering, Additional Secretary Health Laiq Ahmed, the chief guest, said Pakistan remains far from achieving global HIV targets. He confirmed that in 2024, only 7 percent of people living with HIV had achieved viral suppression, meaning most remain capable of transmitting the virus.
“The surge in new infections and outbreaks, particularly among children, is jeopardising Pakistan’s future,” he said, calling for urgent mobilisation of domestic and international resources. He stressed that without scaling up testing, early diagnosis and sustained treatment, AIDS would continue to pose a public health threat.
Community voices were also featured, including a presentation by Aaira Malik, a young transgender activist, who shared grassroots experiences in community mobilisation and HIV prevention among key populations.
The symposium concluded with a panel discussion on youth leadership and the role of education in HIV prevention, followed by a theatrical presentation aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination associated with HIV.
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