Islamabad has recorded 618 new HIV infections from January 2025 through March 2026, reflecting a steady increase in cases month by month. Official figures reveal that adult men constitute the largest portion of these diagnoses.
Data from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination indicate that 498 cases were identified in 2025, followed by 120 new cases in the first quarter of 2026. This points to ongoing transmission within the city.
Monthly reports show a consistent detection rate, with new infections ranging between 31 and 63 each month during 2025. July saw the highest number of cases at 63, followed by September with 52 and August with 45. In 2026, the monthly counts were 41 in January, 39 in February, and 40 in March.
A ministry official noted that these figures demonstrate a persistent identification of new HIV cases every month in Islamabad, with occasional spikes suggesting active transmission within urban social networks.
Breaking down the demographics, adult men accounted for 397 of the 618 cases, representing over 64 percent. Adult women comprised 106 cases, while transgender individuals accounted for 93. Children represented a smaller fraction, with 14 boys and eight girls diagnosed.
Health authorities attribute the rising trend primarily to high-risk behaviors, including drug use and unprotected sexual activity. A senior expert at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences highlighted that more than half of those diagnosed are young men, many reporting drug consumption and unsafe sex practices, particularly involving methamphetamine.
Medical specialists have linked this pattern to the increasing prevalence of “chemsex,” where stimulant drugs reduce inhibitions and lead to extended, often unprotected sexual encounters with multiple partners.
While infections remain concentrated among high-risk groups, the presence of cases among women and children indicates that transmission is spreading into the wider population, including spouses and family members.
Officials emphasize that these data underscore the urgent need to expand HIV testing, implement targeted awareness campaigns, and develop interventions aimed at high-risk populations to control the spread of HIV in Islamabad and surrounding urban areas.
