ISLAMABAD: A high-level HIV task force formed on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has recommended screening deported passengers at airports as part of efforts to control the spread of HIV in Pakistan.
According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, the prime minister took notice of reported increases in HIV cases and constituted a special task force to investigate the issue and propose preventive measures.
The second meeting of the task force was chaired by Minister of State for Health Dr Mukhtar Bharath and attended by health experts, government officials, and representatives of relevant national and international health bodies.
Participants included former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, Major General (retd) Azhar Mahmood Kayani, infectious disease experts, and provincial health secretaries who joined via video link. Officials from the National Institute of Health, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, and UNAIDS also participated.
During the meeting, Dr Mukhtar Bharath said the task force has been assigned to identify the causes of rising HIV cases, determine responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent future outbreaks, including investigating the misuse and reuse of contaminated syringes.
One of the key proposals discussed was the introduction of HIV screening for deported individuals upon arrival at airports, as part of broader border health monitoring measures.
The task force also recommended the development of a real-time national data system to track HIV cases through coordination between health institutions, allowing better monitoring and response to emerging trends.
Officials further agreed on the need to draft a comprehensive National Public Health Law aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases, particularly those linked to unsafe medical practices.