PESHAWAR: The Provincial health officials have sounded the alarm over a sharp rise in HIV cases in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, revealing that nearly 40,000 people may currently be living with the virus, while 15 to 20 new infections are being reported each day.
The figures were shared on Monday during a World AIDS Day press conference at the Peshawar Press Club.
In this regard, Dr. Tariq Hayat Taj, Director of the Provincial AIDS Control Program, said that although around 9,800 HIV patients are officially registered, the actual number is significantly higher.
He attributed the gap to social stigma, which discourages many from undergoing testing. “Due to harsh attitudes in society, many patients are afraid to undergo a test,” he said, noting that this reluctance is enabling the virus to spread undetected.
In this sense, Dr identified quack doctors, illegal clinics, and the repeated use of contaminated syringes as key drivers behind the rising infections. He urged the Health Regulatory Authority to intensify action against unlicensed health practitioners.
He also focused on that HIV is treatable and that registered patients in K-P receive free and lifelong medication from the provincial government. “Use of contaminated syringes multiple times leads to the spread of the virus,” he warned.
Moreover, approximately 40,000 people in K-P and 330,000 nationwide are living with HIV—figures that officials described as deeply concerning. During vaccination campaigns in hotspots such as Iqbal Plaza in Peshawar, 197 transgender individuals tested positive, all of whom are now receiving treatment.
Dr. Tariq mentioned that HIV spreads not only through sexual contact but also through infected needles, unsterilised barber equipment, and unsafe practices in beauty salons.
He reported that in K-P, about 60% of HIV patients are men, 30% women, and 10% transgender individuals. Drug users remain the most vulnerable group, followed by transgender people and sex workers.
“The general population is no longer safe the virus is silently creeping beyond high-risk groups,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, UNICEF Health Specialist Dr. Inamullah Khan appealed for public compassion toward people living with HIV, stressing that discrimination worsens their struggles.
“These patients deserve dignity. Society must not isolate them,” he said.
Assistant Director HIV/AIDS Program Abbas Durrani noted that many Pakistanis returning from Gulf and African countries show signs of infection. He advised citizens working abroad to avoid risky behaviour and protect themselves.
