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The Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) has been summoned to meet on Monday, the 2nd March, 2026 at 10.30 a.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad. The National Assembly has been summoned to meet on Tuesday, the 3rd March, 2026 at 03:00 p.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad. Committee Meetings:01:30 PM: 3rd meeting of the Sub-Committee of the SC on Power Division (Revised, Change in Time) at Committee Room No.7 (4th Floor), Parliament House, Islamabad | 02:00 PM: 9th meeting of the SC on Government Assurances at Constitution Room / Committee Room No. 5 (2nd Floor), Parliament House , Islamabad | 03:30 PM: 20th meeting of the Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming at Committee Room of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Block-F, Pak-Secretariat, Islamabad |
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Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) meets

Friday, 20th February, 2026

Islamabad, the 20th February, 2026: The Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) met under the Chairmanship of Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, MNA, to examine health sector regulatory and policy matters.

2. While reviewing the HIV situation in the country, the Committee observed serious deficiencies in the report submitted by the Ministry, noting that several requested details were missing, including provincial HIV data from Balochistan. The Committee was apprised that under the National AIDS Programme approximately USD 300–500 per patient was spent annually, though this was not reflected in the documentation shared. Members highlighted that approximately 350,000 HIV patients had been reported from Sindh and Punjab, indicating an increase of around 75 percent; 20,000 new cases had been reported in 2018–19 and 9,700 cases had been recorded in the first nine months of 2024. The Committee further noted that 31 patients identified as HIV positive at Nishtar Hospital were not accompanied by information on treatment progress, and that data relating to 669 reported cases out of 5,000 in District Sargodha (Kot Momin) during 2018–19 was absent. It was also highlighted that 24,000 patients had been registered for treatment in 2019, while the Minister clarified that at present only 84,000 individuals were under treatment for HIV. The Committee emphasized that multiple aspects, including requested data and causal factors, remained inadequately reflected in the Ministry’s submission.

3. The Minister for Health clarified that these figures indicated that, following the Ministry’s efforts to curb the issue by expanding testing centres from 24 to 127, more individuals had been reporting and getting tested, which resulted in higher case detection. The Minister stated that several positive steps had been taken during his tenure and should be reflected accordingly. The Committee sought a report on initiatives undertaken by the Ministry during this period.

4. The Committee was informed that reported HIV cases were being tracked and that expansion of screening facilities had contributed to increased identification of cases. The Ministry indicated that nationwide screening and awareness measures were being pursued and that programme-related matters, including funding flows and oversight mechanisms, would be shared with the Committee in subsequent briefings. The Chair directed that a consolidated progress report detailing actions taken be presented before the next meeting.

5. The Committee directed that details regarding funding allocations to NGOs, programme implementation, including HIV-related matters and project-specific operational briefings be presented in the next meeting.

6. The Committee examined concerns regarding regulatory oversight and performance of healthcare authorities, including issues related to outdated information sharing and lack of progress reporting on clinical oversight and enforcement measures by the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority, Islamabad. The Ministry informed the Committee that certain matters required time and development review, and Members emphasized the need for comprehensive documentation and factual ground assessments in future submissions.

7. ⁠While deliberating on the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (Ordinance No. IX of 2025), the Minister for Health stated that “the war was still on they had not given up,” and proposed that the matter be taken up in a subsequent in-camera meeting. Members raised concerns that, according to their sources, even in the newly constituted Council certain members from Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan possessed fake degrees and lacked required qualifications, and sought supporting verification. The Ministry requested documentary evidence from Members and indicated that a report would be shared for further consideration. The Committee deferred discussion on the Ordinance till the next meeting.

8. The Committee also discussed the Ministry’s project implementation, and programme utilization across ongoing schemes under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). Members expressed grave concerns over the Ministry’s unpreparedness regarding ongoing PSDP schemes, termed the situation alarming, and called for detailed briefings and documentation from relevant authorities in subsequent meetings.

9. The meeting was attended by Honourable Members Ms. Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Ms. Aliya Kamran, Dr. Darshan, Ms. Sabheen Ghoury, and Dr. Shaista Khan, along with the Minister for Health, relevant officials and stakeholders from the Ministry and its attached departments.