ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: Minister of State for Health Begum Shahnaz Sheikh on Wednesday said the government would formulate a strategy for prevention and control of HIV/Aids to protect the people from the killer disease.

Presiding over a meeting of a joint review and scooping mission on HIV/Aids, she appreciated the donor agencies for extending support to Pakistan in its efforts to prevent and control HIV/Aids.

Dr Asma Bokhari, the programme manager of the national Aids control programme, briefed the participants on the measures being taken for prevention and control of the disease.

Preventive services including service delivery package for different vulnerable groups were also reviewed in addition to sexually-transmitted infections-related interventions, behaviour change advocacy campaign and interventions related to safe blood transfusion.

General care and support services, detoxification and rehabilitation services, especially for programme management including strengthening health system, institutional arrangement and linkages between provinces and federation were also discussed.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli has said the release of PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari shows that the judiciary is independent and justice prevails in the country.

Talking to media persons after attending a function here at a local school, the state minister said the government wanted to resolve the differences with the opposition through talks. No vindictive action is being taken against anyone, she added.

She said there was no need to speculate about the release of the PPP leader, adding that he had been released on bail by the court. Ms Tahirkheli said uncertainty was prevailing in the country due to the uniform issue, release of Mr Zardari and pressing social problems like unemployment, price-hike and poverty. She said the parliament had empowered Gen Pervez Musharraf to remain in uniform.

Earlier speaking at the function, she underlined the need for taking steps to control HIV/Aids. The minister stressed upon the private sector to play its due role in this respect. She said due to social taboos, the disease was not discussed openly, adding that the government wanted to bring attitudinal change among the masses in this regard.

In Pakistan, HIV/Aids is not so rampant as in other countries but still there is a need to raise more awareness of the disease and take necessary precautions. She assured full cooperation on behalf of the government in Aids-related campaigns.

British Council Director Andrew Picken said Aids had become one of the most critical issues during the last few years, necessitating specific measures to control the disease.

He said the British Council had been working in collaboration with different institutions to raise awareness about the disease. Mr Picken said the British Council was also working with different institutions in both the public and private sectors in the fields of education, health, governance and information to strengthen relations between the two countries.

He underlined the importance of such interactive programmes, saying that these would improve the image of Britain in Pakistan and vice versa. The British Council, he said, had also launched A-Level and O-Level programmes and other activities in order to improve the standard of education.

On the occasion, children presented speeches and different skits highlighting the disease and its lethal effects. One important message which they stressed on was that Aids patients should not be considered social outcasts.