A high-level meeting on 4 November 2025 at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination brought federal and partner agencies together to address a recent rise in HIV cases and to reinforce Pakistan’s national HIV response. The session, chaired by the Additional Secretary of the ministry and coordinated by the Common Management Unit, reviewed national and provincial data and identified immediate actions to strengthen prevention and service integration.
Representatives from UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and civil society organizations including APLHIV and Nai Zindagi participated in the discussion. Participants agreed that improved coordination between federal and provincial authorities and enhanced integration of services are essential to reverse the trend. The meeting placed strong emphasis on data driven planning to target testing and treatment where they are most needed.
Under the guidance of the Honourable Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal and the Secretary Health, the Additional Secretary reaffirmed that HIV prevention and control remain top national priorities and pledged to personally chair future sessions to ensure sustained leadership. The Director General Health stressed the need to integrate HIV services within existing programs, boost provincial ownership and use evidence to guide resource allocation.
The Deputy National Coordinator of the HIV Common Management Unit shared updated figures showing increased detections largely attributable to expanded screening and testing efforts. Participants were briefed on the upcoming Opioid Agonist Maintenance Therapy program scheduled to launch in December and discussed how OAMT will link with testing, harm reduction and treatment services to improve outcomes for people who use drugs.
On directions from the federal minister, the ministry announced the formation of a Technical Working Group led by the DG Health with representation from provinces, UN partners and community organizations to develop a concise HIV Response Strategy. The group will prioritise service integration, mobilising domestic funding and ensuring active provincial participation in implementation and monitoring.
Key operational priorities agreed at the meeting include integrating HIV testing within hepatitis and maternal and child health services, strengthening blood safety and infection control measures, and rolling out a responsible media communication strategy to raise awareness and reduce stigma. The approach aims to make testing and treatment more accessible while protecting rights and dignity of affected communities.
The Additional Secretary concluded by reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to a coordinated, transparent and sustainable HIV response, stressing that Pakistan’s progress will depend on collective action, strong provincial leadership and continued engagement with UN and civil society partners. The focus remains on scaling up tested interventions and using the new Technical Working Group to translate commitments into measurable results for the national HIV response.
