ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Kamal has told a Senate Standing Committee on Health that a growing number of new HIV cases in the capital are linked to drug use and “promiscuity after drug use at parties” at night parties, marking what officials described as an emerging pattern of sexual transmission among young urban adults.
Talking to reporters after briefing lawmakers amid concerns over rising infections in Islamabad and across Pakistan, the minister said a recent review of cases found that monthly new diagnoses in the capital were now exceeding 30.
وفاقی وزیر صحت کا نائٹ پارٹیز سے ایچ ائی وی پھیلنے کا انکشاف، سب شہروں میں نائٹ پارٹیز ہوتی ہیں بہت سے ایچ ائی وی کیسز سامنے ائے ہیں جو استعمال شدہ سرنجز سے سامنے نہیں ائے بلکہ پارٹیز میں منشیات کے استعمال کے بعد بے راہ روای کی وجہ سے ہوئے والدین اپنے بچوں پر نظر رکھیں ، مصطفٰی… pic.twitter.com/xtrrimm2yt
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According to officials who examined the data, many of the affected individuals — young men and women — were connected to night parties held in multiple cities where drug use was reported.
Unlike previous outbreaks tied to reused syringes or unsafe medical injections, including those involving children in Ratodero and Karachi hospitals, these cases were attributed primarily to high-risk sexual activity in drug-influenced settings.
Mustafa Kamal characterized the conduct at such gatherings as “unruly behavior,” and said the trend pointed to a lifestyle-related driver of transmission in urban areas, urging parents to monitor their children more closely, framing the issue as one that requires both public health intervention and greater family oversight.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan is experiencing one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the region. Current estimates suggest around 369,000 people are living with HIV nationwide, though only about 84,000 are registered with treatment programs.
Health officials note that many cases remain undiagnosed or untreated, complicating efforts to contain the spread.
The minister told the committee that traditional drivers of HIV in Pakistan have included unsafe injections and syringe reuse in healthcare settings, mother-to-child transmission, and transmission among key populations. However, the Islamabad findings highlight a shift in some urban clusters, where nightlife and drug use are now correlating with new infections.
He reiterated that expanded screening and testing had led to higher detection rates, and stressed the need to strengthen prevention, awareness, and access to treatment.
It may be recalled here that Mustafa Kamal has previously spoken about addressing medical negligence, securing funding, and responding to gaps in infection control that have fueled earlier outbreaks.
In his latest remarks, he emphasized that while sexual transmission linked to parties is not yet the dominant national cause, it represents a notable trend that requires attention alongside systemic healthcare reforms.
