Night Parties Contributing to HIV Spread in Major Cities, Says Health Minister Mustafa Kamal
ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has expressed concern over the rising number of HIV cases, stating that night parties among young people in major cities are one of the factors contributing to the spread of the virus.
He made the remarks during a joint meeting of the Senate Standing Committees on Human Rights and Health, chaired by Senators Samina Zehri and Aamir Waleeduddin, where members reviewed the National Population Coordination and Reproductive Health Bill, 2026.
Addressing the committee, the minister said that the use of drugs at night parties, followed by risky sexual behavior among young people, is contributing to the increase in HIV infections. He described the activities taking place at such gatherings as a matter of serious concern.
Mustafa Kamal said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is taking the issue of population control very seriously and has chaired several meetings on the subject. He added that a committee comprising Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the Finance Minister, and other senior officials is actively working on population management policies.
The health minister pointed out that 82 percent of the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award formula is based on population, which, he argued, effectively encourages provinces to increase their populations. In contrast, he said, neighboring countries assign only 17 percent weight to population in comparable resource distribution mechanisms. He added that provinces reducing their population growth risk receiving fewer financial resources.
Mustafa Kamal also said that, through the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, taxes on contraceptive medicines have been reduced to zero in the current federal budget. He expressed hope that making contraceptives more affordable and easily available could reduce annual population growth by around 150,000 people.
The minister further stated that Pakistan is currently recording approximately 6.7 million newborn births every year, underscoring the need for effective population planning and reproductive health policies.
