Pakistan May Record Highest-Ever HIV Cases in 2025
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan is set for a record high in new HIV cases in 2025, exceeding 10,000 confirmed infections in the first nine months.
- The sharp rise is largely due to incidental detections during medical screenings for surgeries, emergencies, and visa applications.
- Experts highlight the absence of mandatory HIV testing laws for high-risk groups, contributing to a large undiagnosed population.
- Recent outbreaks, including children contracting HIV via syringe reuse, indicate the virus is spreading beyond traditional risk categories.
- Only about 55,000 of the estimated 370,000 people living with HIV in Pakistan are currently receiving treatment.
Pakistan is set to record its highest annual number of newly detected HIV cases, confirming over 10,000 infections in the first nine months of 2025, with projections suggesting the total could surpass 14,000. Health officials attribute the rapid escalation, the fastest in the country's history, to incidental detections during routine medical screenings for surgeries and visa applications. Experts note that the country lacks crucial laws mandating HIV testing for vulnerable populations like sex workers and deported migrants, leaving many undiagnosed. Recent localized outbreaks, such as those involving children contracting the virus through syringe reuse, show the spread moving beyond traditional risk groups. The steepest rise is observed among men who have sex with men, alongside ongoing infection sources from returning migrant workers. With an estimated 370,000 people living with HIV but only 55,000 receiving treatment, experts urgently call for screening and prevention reforms to curb the silent expansion of the epidemic.
