Netizens horrified after report claims kids’ HIV outbreak in Punjab’s Taunsa caused by reusing syringes
A BBC exposé alleges severe medical malpractice at the THQ Hospital Taunsa infected 331 children with HIV.
Social activist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr is one of Pakistan’s most prominent voices raising awareness about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and he has actor Sheheryar Munawar in his corner.
The two posted a reel on Instagram on Friday, talking about the virus and how freely available treatment can help patients and society.
In the clip, Munawar tells viewers that people infected by HIV can opt for free treatment in Pakistan. He said getting treated can bring patients to a point where the disease becomes “undetectable”.
He explained that this meant individuals who get treated can’t transmit the disease to others. “In three months, the viral load in your blood can drop to zero and a large portion of your blood can effectively be cleaned.”
Bhutto said the safest person, from a medical point of view, isn’t the one who’s never been tested, it’s the one whose viral load is suppressed.
Munawar said people stayed away from testing and treatment out of a fear of society and their ignorance. He said people often die because this fear prevents them from getting diagnosed.
“If this disease is not treated in a timely manner, a patient can die within 10 years,” the actor said.
Bhutto said, “The more you know about HIV, the safer you are.”
HIV and the stigma around the condition remain a serious problem in Pakistan, with the health ministry saying in May that nearly 20,000 patients had “gone missing” after discontinuing treatment.
The ministry said an estimated 369,000 people were living with HIV in Pakistan, while only 84,000 cases were currently registered, highlighting a significant detection gap. In 2025 alone, 14,000 new cases were reported.
The country reeled in horror in April, when an exposé from the BBC revealed severe medical malpractice in Punjab’s Taunsa which led to a surge in HIV infections among the area’s children.
At the time, Bhutto said medical malpractice “accounted for the majority of major outbreaks” and the victims were “victims are almost always children”.
“Prejudice against the disease must stop so these children can live full and happy lives,” the activist said.