Pakistan is confronting a rapidly growing HIV crisis, with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS warning that the country now has one of the fastest-expanding HIV epidemics in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Recent statistics show that new HIV infections in Pakistan have increased by 200 percent over the past 15 years, rising from approximately 16,000 cases in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024.
Initially concentrated among high-risk populations, the virus is now spreading into the general population, affecting families, children, spouses, and broader communities. Experts attribute this alarming trend to unsafe medical practices, including the reuse of syringes, inadequate infection-prevention protocols, lack of routine testing.
Health authorities emphasize that without urgent interventions, including widespread testing, enhanced public awareness, strict adherence to safe medical practices, and robust community-level prevention programs, Pakistan could see hundreds of thousands more people exposed to severe health risks. The escalating epidemic poses a significant public health challenge, underscoring the need for immediate action to prevent further spread and protect vulnerable populations.
