ISLAMABAD: While Pakistan is in the spotlight due to the HIV cases, Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday lashed out at Global Fund (GF) alleging that it was giving over 90 per cent of funds to non-government organisationd to combat HIV.

He said the non-government organisations were not answerable to the government and they did not share any data with the ministry under the pretext of confidentiality.

He said the government had received only $3.9 million from GF and was answerable to only that fund. Addressing a press conference over the recent HIV cases, Mr Kamal said that under the 2024–2026 programme, Pakistan was allocated $65 million by GF.

“Out of it, $3.9 million was provided directly to the government of Pakistan, while $61.1 million was disbursed to two organisations i.e. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a private non-governmental organisation Nai Zindagi. While complete details of the funds received by the government are available, the ministry does not have information regarding the utilisation of funds by the other entities, and NGOs have refused to share details,” he said.

He said that GF had put Pakistan in a category in which funds were spent through non-government organisations.

The minister said that in 2020, as many as 37,944 individuals were screened at 49 ART centres, with 6,910 tested positive.

By 2025, the number of centres increased to 97, where 374,126 tests were conducted, resulting in 14,182 positive cases.

The minister also referenced past financial irregularities in global funding mechanisms and stated that investigations had been completed, with action being taken against those responsible.

He accepted that a few years ago medicated mosquito nets, worth of $800,000 provided by GF, were stolen and nobody was made accountable.

“GF informed me about it during a meeting in Geneva and I had to accept it despite the fact that I was not minister at that time. We have investigated the issue and those who have been found responsible are being made accountable,” he said.

The minister further claimed that provinces were spending funds to combat HIV on their own.

He revealed that the total number of registered HIV cases in Pakistan were 84,000, of which 61,000 patients were currently receiving treatment, while the remaining individuals were untraceable.

He clarified that HIV was not an untreatable disease, and with timely treatment, patients can live normal life and prevent transmission to others.

According to expert estimates, the number of HIV cases in Pakistan could be as high as 369,000.

However, the current prevalence rate remains at 0.1pc, which is lower than the global average of 0.5pc, he said.

Discussing regional updates, he noted that no new HIV cases have been reported in Taunsa this year, while 618 cases have been registered in Islamabad, including 208 local cases and 408 referred from other areas.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the minister emphasised continued efforts to prevent the spread of HIV, expand screening and improve access to treatment facilities across the country.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026