ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday pledged to bolster the nation's fight against three major infectious diseases that claim thousands of lives annually during a meeting with international health financing officials in Islamabad.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Sharif met with a delegation of the Global Fund, led by Head of Grant Management Mark Edington. Senior Portfolio Manager Izaskun Gaviria and Deputy General Counsel Natasha Heffinck also attended.
PM Sharif told the delegation that Pakistan values its partnership with the Global Fund as essential to strengthening the country's healthcare infrastructure. He announced plans to establish a joint task force with the organization to prevent HIV transmission in Pakistan.
“The government is determined to eliminate all three diseases,” the prime minister said.
Pakistan's health ministry provided the delegation with details on current disease prevention initiatives. The Global Fund representatives commended the government's efforts and pledged continued partnership.
The meeting included federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Syed Mustafa Kamal, and Attaullah Tarar, as well as the prime minister's polio eradication coordinator.
Pakistan's expanding health response
Pakistan has gained ground in its fight against the three infectious diseases in recent years. The National AIDS Control Program reported more than 76,000 documented HIV cases nationwide, with roughly 55,500 people accessing treatment. The virus spreads primarily among high-risk populations, among which targeted prevention strategies are yielding measurable results.
Malaria cases, meanwhile, had peaked following the devastating 2022 floods. The Directorate of Malaria Control reported that cases surged above 2.8 million during the crisis, but recent interventions have begun to reverse that trend. The year 2025 recorded a 10% decline from 2024.
Balochistan and Sindh provinces, traditionally the hardest hit areas, were seeing improved outcomes through expanded prevention efforts.
Meanwhile, tuberculosis remains a challenge, but the government has been mobilizing resources to combat it. According to the National TB Control Program, the country ranks fifth worldwide in TB burden and carries roughly one-third of all infections across its region.
The program reported nearly 670,000 people received treatment annually, with approximately 51,000 deaths, as the government works to reduce cases through new treatment networks.
