‘Injection Culture’ and Weak Enforcement Fuelling HIV Outbreaks in Pakistan, Experts Warn
Karachi: April 20, 2026
Infectious diseases specialists have raised serious concerns over Pakistan’s growing HIV epidemic, warning that the virus is no longer limited to high-risk groups and is now spreading rapidly into the general population.
According to experts from the Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan, who addressed a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday, approximately 39% of HIV infections are now found among non-key, low-risk populations, including women and children.
Citing a detailed white paper, they revealed that the number of people living with HIV in Pakistan has increased 4.3 times since 2010, reaching an estimated 350,000 by 2024. AIDS-related deaths have surged dramatically — rising 6.4-fold from around 2,200 to nearly 14,000 annually, an increase of over 500%.
New HIV infections have jumped nearly 200%, from 16,000 in 2010 to around 48,000 in 2024. Pakistan now accounts for 55% of all HIV cases in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Unsafe Medical Practices Blamed
Dr Samreen Sarfaraz of Indus Hospital highlighted unsafe injections and contaminated blood transfusions as the main drivers. “The HIV outbreak situation in Karachi hospitals demonstrates that safe injections and safe blood are urgently needed,” she said.
Pakistan has one of the highest rates of therapeutic injections in the world, with people receiving between 8 to 14 injections per year on average. Widespread reuse of syringes, unregulated clinics, and poor infection control in healthcare facilities have triggered multiple outbreaks, including the 2019 Ratodero incident that infected over 1,000 children.
Recent clusters in Multan and Karachi’s SITE Area follow the same pattern of healthcare-associated transmission.
Low Diagnosis and Treatment Rates
Despite the rising burden, only 21% of people living with HIV have been diagnosed, and just 16% are receiving treatment.
Experts including Dr Asma Nasim, Dr Fatima Mir, and Dr Naseem Salahuddin called for immediate enforcement of safe injection practices, universal blood screening, and strict regulation of healthcare facilities. They also highlighted emerging concerns over hospital-acquired mpox cases among children and neonates.
The experts urged urgent action to prevent further preventable deaths and community transmission.
