The HIV epidemic in Pakistan is being driven by unsafe medical practices, such as the reuse of syringes and improper blood management, rather than traditional transmission routes. Poor infection control in unregulated clinics is spreading the virus to the general population, including children and women with no known risk factors.
Pakistan has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics, with a 200% increase in new infections over the past 15 years. An estimated 350,000 people are living with HIV, but many are unaware of their status. Experts are calling for urgent reforms, including strict enforcement of single-use syringes and crackdowns on unlicensed practitioners.
