The National Assembly was told that 3,900 children were registered as HIV-positive across the country between January 2025 and June 2026, underlining fresh concern about HIV cases in Pakistan among younger age groups.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said in a written reply that Sindh recorded the highest share at 1,915 registrations, followed by Punjab with 1,765. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 139, Balochistan 46, Islamabad 30, Azad Jammu and Kashmir four, and Gilgit-Baltistan one. He said the two largest provinces accounted for more than 94 percent of the child total.
Provincial share of child registrations
Nearly half of the registered child cases were in Sindh alone. Together with Punjab, the figures show that HIV cases in Pakistan among children reported to authorities are heavily concentrated in the country’s most populous provinces, while smaller numbers were listed in the remaining regions and territories named in the reply.
Wider HIV burden and screening
The House was also informed that, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates—the UN health agency’s projections—Pakistan’s annual HIV infections had risen threefold, from 16,000 in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024. More than 417,000 people were estimated to be living with HIV, while 92,148 had been registered with the authorities.
Kamal said the number of HIV screening tests had increased from 37,944 in 2020 to more than 374,000 in 2025. The jump in testing sits alongside the higher estimated annual infections and the child registration figures given to the Assembly.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 2010: WHO estimates put annual HIV infections in Pakistan at 16,000.
- 2020: 37,944 HIV screening tests were recorded.
- 2024: WHO estimates put annual infections at 48,000—three times the 2010 level.
- 2025: More than 374,000 HIV screening tests were recorded.
- January 2025–June 2026: 3,900 children were registered as HIV-positive nationwide, with Sindh and Punjab dominating the count.
Aasan alfaaz mein
National Assembly ko bataya gaya ke January 2025 se June 2026 tak 3,900 bachay HIV-positive register hue. Zyada tar cases Sindh aur Punjab se aaye. Pakistan mein HIV ke naye cases pehle se bohot zyada hain, aur screening tests bhi barh gaye hain. Bachon ke cases se samajh aata hai ke family screening aur ilaj ki zaroorat bohot ahmiyat rakhti hai.
