Pakistan’s response to HIV & AIDS began in 1987 with the establishment of a Federal Committee on AIDS (FCA) by the Ministry of Health, soon after the first case of AIDS was reported. The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) was then established in 1990 with a focus on diagnosis of cases that came to hospitals, but progressively began to shift towards a community focus. Its objectives are the prevention of HIV transmission, safe blood transfusions, reduction of STD transmission, establishment of surveillance, training of health staff, research and behavioral studies, and development of program management.

Subsequently, in 1994, the program was brought under the multi-donor financed Social Action Program with a more pragmatic agenda including information education, blood screening and establishing provincial implementation units. The program is now implemented through federal and provincial implementation units. The government’s commitment is reflected by the fact that about 80% of all expenditures on HIV & AIDS has been financed by the Government of Pakistan (GoP).

In 1999 - 2000, GoP with the assistance of UNAIDS and other development partners undertook a strategic planning exercise with input from all stakeholders. The framework envisages multi-sectoral response and development of partnerships and collective action, essential for decreasing the vulnerability of Pakistan’s population. The GoP is committed to expand its response to HIV & AIDS by translating the Strategic framework through this donor-financed enhanced program. The Enhanced HIV & AIDS Control Program is being implemented at Federal Level under National AIDS Control Program.

Following are the four major components of the enhanced program:

Component 1: Expansion of Interventions for Vulnerable Populations This component aims to increase prevalence of safe behaviors among vulnerable populations (sex workers, hijras, men who have sex with men, injecting drug users and long distance truck drivers) and improved availability of STI services.

Component 2: Improved HIV Prevention by the General Public This component aims to improve knowledge and practice of HIV preventive measures, including use of high quality STI services by general adult population. The project of “Delivery of Behavior Change Communication (BCC) Services through TV and Radio Channels, Print Media and Interpersonal Communication (IPC) Interventions” has been designed to achieve this objective. However, at large it also attempts to address issues related to component 3, which is the prevention of transmission through transfusion of blood and blood products. The objective of the BCC project is to improve knowledge, skills, practices and behavior of general adult population of Pakistan for protecting themselves and their peers against HIV & AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Component 3: Prevention of Transmission through Transfusion of Blood and Blood Products. The aim of this component is to reduce the transmission of HIV through safe transfusion of blood and blood products.

Component 4: Capacity Building and Programme Management. This component aims to effectively manage the services of HIV & AIDS programme and to enhance the capacity of public and private sector through strengthening programme management, NGO capacity development, second generation HIV surveillance and operational research and strengthening management and care for people living with HIV & AIDS.