Islamabad: Pakistan’s Global Fund oversight system received a major push as the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) elected new leadership for the next two years to guide national monitoring of HIV, TB and malaria grants, a development seen as vital for improving accountability and keeping donor investments on track.
In the closely watched election held on Friday, Health Services Academy Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahzad Ali Khan secured a strong majority vote to chair the oversight committee. Members said his appointment places an experienced public health professional at the centre of Pakistan’s grant-monitoring structure at a time when disease programmes face financial, procurement and performance-related pressures.
The session at the CCM Secretariat in the National Institute of Health opened with a review of oversight activities over the previous grant cycle, including follow up on committee recommendations, findings from provincial site visits and progress on addressing red flags previously highlighted in quarterly reporting. The meeting also assessed a revised communication plan to improve coordination between the CCM, principal recipients and provincial programmes.
Under Global Fund rules, the oversight committee serves as the CCM’s main accountability arm. It provides continuous strategic monitoring of programme performance, commodity management, procurement practices, financial discipline and high-risk areas where weak compliance or delays can undermine health outcomes.
Officials said the committee’s function includes analysing programme data, examining bottlenecks, tracking whether earlier corrective actions were implemented and engaging implementers whenever indicators fall behind targets. The committee does not manage grants directly but identifies system-level issues and advises the CCM on steps required to safeguard impact.
Members noted that Pakistan’s HIV, TB and malaria programmes continue to face challenges: rising HIV infections among key populations, fluctuating TB notifications and persistent malaria transmission in climate-affected regions. They said stronger oversight and more consistent follow up will be essential to improving grant performance, timely procurement and equitable service delivery.
The leadership election followed a structured ballot among Global Fund-approved oversight members. Officials said the strong turnout and clear result signaled growing maturity in Pakistan’s governance of Global Fund financing.
Development partners present at the meeting said the next two years will be crucial. With economic pressures affecting supply chains and with provinces showing uneven performance in case detection, treatment adherence, and surveillance, the oversight committee is expected to push for data-driven management and closer tracking of financial and operational risks.
Members also discussed the next round of oversight visits, identifying several districts where supply shortages, delayed procurement, or gaps in outreach activities require on-ground verification. Updates on grant cycle seven (GC7) implementation, reprogramming needs and upcoming strategic reviews for HIV and malaria were also shared by principal recipients.
Officials said transparent, evidence-based oversight is vital not only for ensuring that Global Fund resources reach communities most affected by HIV, TB and malaria, but also for maintaining donor confidence in Pakistan’s health governance system.
The meeting concluded with the formal confirmation of Prof Dr Shahzad Ali Khan as chair, who will now guide the oversight committee’s work, strengthen coordination with implementers and lead efforts to improve the country’s grant performance across all provinces.
Ends