Health Minister Blames Night Parties for Rise in HIV Among Youngsters

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has linked the rising number of HIV infections in Pakistan to drug use and risky sexual behavior at night parties, saying the issue is becoming a serious concern for the country.

The remarks were made during a joint meeting of the Senate Standing Committees on Human Rights and Health, chaired by Senators Samina Zehri and Aamir Waliuddin, where lawmakers discussed the National Population Coordination and Reproductive Health Bill, 2026.

Addressing the committee, Kamal said that drug use at night parties often leads to unsafe sexual activities among young people, which he described as a major factor contributing to the spread of HIV in Pakistan.

“What is happening at these night parties is deeply concerning,” the health minister said while highlighting the need to address the issue.

Speaking about population control, Kamal said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is taking the matter seriously and has chaired several meetings on the issue. He added that a committee comprising Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the finance minister, and other senior officials is actively working on policy measures.

The minister also criticized the current National Finance Commission (NFC) Award formula, noting that 82 percent of resource distribution is based on population. According to him, this effectively creates an incentive for provinces to increase their populations, whereas neighboring countries allocate only around 17 percent of such funding based on population.

He argued that provinces reducing their population growth could receive lower financial allocations under the existing formula, making population control more challenging.

Kamal further revealed that, following efforts by the prime minister and the finance minister, the government has eliminated taxes on contraceptives in the current federal budget to improve access to family planning products.

He said the removal of these taxes, combined with easier availability of contraceptives, is expected to reduce Pakistan’s annual population growth by approximately 150,000 people.

The health minister also disclosed that around 6.7 million babies are born in Pakistan every year, underscoring the need for stronger population planning policies.