3,900 Children Registered with HIV in Pakistan Between January 2025 and June 2026, National Assembly Told
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Health has presented details of children affected by HIV/AIDS in the National Assembly, revealing that 3,900 children were registered with HIV between January 2025 and June 2026, with Sindh recording the highest number of cases.
The National Assembly session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, was informed that 1,915 children in Sindh and 1,765 children in Punjab had been affected by HIV.
According to the figures presented, 139 children were affected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 46 in Balochistan and 30 in Islamabad. Four cases were reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while one child was registered with HIV in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Ministry of Health also shared figures highlighting an increase in the estimated annual HIV cases in Pakistan. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the estimated number of annual HIV cases has increased from 16,000 to 48,000.
HIV screening and testing have also expanded significantly, rising from 37,944 tests in 2020 to more than 374,000 in 2025.
During the session, Shahida Begum said that, according to WHO estimates, more than 417,000 people were living with HIV in Pakistan. She added that 92,148 people had been registered and were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Shazia Marri criticised remarks made by the defence minister about women during the previous day’s proceedings.
She said the minister had made inappropriate comments about women in the heat of the moment and strongly condemned the remarks. Shazia Marri maintained that inappropriate statements against women should be condemned regardless of whether they came from government or opposition members.
Shahida Begum also said that all women, whether belonging to the government or opposition, deserved respect.
During the proceedings, the National Assembly passed several legislative bills, including the Higher Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026; the NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology, Multan (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the National Textile University (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The House also approved the National Rahmatul-lil-Alameen wa Khatam-un-Nabiyyin Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Following the completion of its agenda, the National Assembly session was adjourned sine die.
