LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazeer has claimed that the provincial government had already taken extensive measures regarding HIV cases in Taunsa to contain the surge and strengthen surveillance systems.
Speaking at a press conference at the Health and Population Department’s Secretariat committee room on Thursday, the minister said that following an alert issued by the department last year, the Punjab government conducted large-scale screening in the affected area, covering approximately 55,000 households. The screening drive, which continued until August 2025, identified 334 confirmed HIV cases across seven union councils in Taunsa, he added. According to the minister, a joint response mechanism involving the provincial health department and international partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Unicef, was also activated to assess the situation and recommend containment measures. He said a special counter had been established in Taunsa to facilitate testing, counselling and treatment, while a dedicated screening and treatment centre was also set up at the THQ Hospital in March 2025. “This centre has so far screened around 5,000 individuals and continues to provide daily diagnostic and treatment services,” he said.
