KARACHI: Sindh authorities have screened more than 10,500 residents living near the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI)-run Valika Hospital in Karachi’s SITE area after an HIV outbreak emerged in October 2025, identifying 120 positive cases, Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said on Tuesday.

The government also tested 2,000 people at a SESSI-run hospital in Landhi, where health officials confirmed HIV in 10 individuals, Ghani said during a press conference alongside Indus Hospital Chief Executive Dr Abdul Bari and Aga Khan University Hospital infectious diseases specialist Dr Faisal Mahmood.

Ghani shared the findings of two official inquiries into the outbreak, saying the second report, submitted to the provincial ombudsman on June 19, 2026, confirmed 78 HIV-positive children and six deaths linked to the incident.

He said the Health Department’s Communicable Disease Control (CDC) unit launched the screening campaign on October 23, 2025, a day after receiving a letter from Valika Hospital. The provincial government is funding treatment for all 120 people who tested positive.

Ghani said authorities would continue the screening campaign regardless of whether it uncovers additional infections. He pledged that the government would provide treatment and support to every newly diagnosed patient.

Electric Motorcycles: Karachi’s Poor Roads Slow EV Bike Adoption Despite Rising Demand

The provincial government has also introduced a dedicated data collection system to strengthen investigations while protecting the privacy of affected families.

Ghani said officials confirmed all 78 child cases after directly contacting their families, although the total number of infections could rise as screening continues.

Five leading healthcare institutions, including Indus Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital and Dow University of Health Sciences, are treating the affected children.

To support long-term care, the provincial government will establish a committee of leading medical experts to oversee treatment plans and manage a Rs2 billion endowment fund for the affected children. Ghani said the government could increase the fund if additional resources become necessary.

The minister acknowledged shortcomings in medical waste disposal and said some individuals ignored established safety protocols for personal gain despite the availability of proper disposal systems. Authorities have already begun legal action against those responsible.

Referring to the Sindh HIV Control Act, 2006, Ghani urged politicians and public figures to protect the identities of affected families and avoid actions that could expose them to stigma or discrimination.

He said authorities would hold those responsible accountable through dismissals, criminal prosecutions and imprisonment where required.

Responding to questions about his own role, Ghani said he accepted indirect responsibility and added that he would have no objection to resigning if it helped resolve the issue.

He clarified that investigators traced all hospital-linked infections to the period before October 2025 and said health officials have not identified any new infection originating from Valika Hospital since then. Authorities continue screening at both hospitals and in surrounding communities.

Dr Faisal Mahmood of Aga Khan University Hospital said HIV cases have also surfaced in other areas, while investigators have identified infection-control failures at several private clinics. He added that many patients reported visiting private clinics before testing positive.

Dr Abdul Bari of Indus Hospital said Pakistan continues to face a significant burden of HIV and Hepatitis C. He urged the government and healthcare providers to strengthen infection-control measures and ensure the consistent use of new syringes in clinics and hospitals.