Sindh Sets Rs2bn Fund for Children Infected With HIV in Karachi
KARACHI: Sindh authorities have moved to create a Rs2 billion support mechanism for children infected with HIV at Karachi’s Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital, marking a major official response to a case that has triggered public alarm and legal scrutiny.
The decision was taken by the governing body of the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution, commonly known as SESSI, after the government confirmed that 78 children had so far been identified as HIV-positive in connection with treatment received at the institution-run hospital.
The proposed endowment fund is intended to cover long-term medical care, rehabilitation and welfare support for the affected children and their families. Officials said the fund would be used to ensure sustained treatment rather than a short-term response, given the lifelong medical needs associated with HIV management.
Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, who chaired the SESSI governing body meeting, said the matter was being investigated transparently and that no official or medical worker found responsible would be spared because of position or rank. He also reaffirmed that the provincial government would continue supporting the affected families medically and legally.
The governing body also reviewed an inquiry report prepared after directions from the Provincial Ombudsman. Following that review, it endorsed departmental proceedings against 37 doctors and paramedical staff, including approval of suspensions and the issuance of show-cause notices.
According to the minister, the first official report about the incident surfaced in October 2025, after which an inquiry committee was formed. At that stage, only a limited number of cases had been detected, but the government later ordered wider screening of children who had been treated at the hospital.
The case has also reached the Sindh High Court, where a petitioner claimed the number of affected children could be higher than the official figure. The petition alleged that children may have contracted HIV through unsafe medical practices, including the alleged reuse of contaminated syringes, and sought an independent inquiry, criminal proceedings, lifelong treatment and compensation.
The provincial government has been asked by the court to explain the outbreak, adding judicial pressure to an already sensitive public health crisis. Authorities are now expected to clarify how the infections occurred, whether hospital protocols were breached and what safeguards are being introduced to prevent such incidents.
For Pakistan’s health system, the episode raises serious questions about infection control, public hospital oversight and accountability in medical facilities serving vulnerable families. The scale of the official response suggests that the Sindh government recognises the issue as both a healthcare emergency and a test of public trust.
The next phase will depend on the completion of inquiries, court proceedings and the practical rollout of the Rs2bn fund. Families of the affected children will be watching closely to see whether the promised treatment, welfare support and accountability translate into lasting protection and justice.