Since 1987, the numbers of reported HIV infections and AIDS cases in Pakistan have risen steadily and affect all geographical regions of the country. The total number of reported cases, as of December 2002, was 1,998. However, the WHO/UNAIDS forecast model estimates a much higher number: between 70,000 and 80,000 people, or 0.1 per cent of the adult population.

Heterosexual transmission (52.55 per cent) and contaminated blood or blood products (11.73 per cent) are the most commonly reported modes of transmission for HIV/AIDS in Pakistan. Other modes of transmission include injecting drug use (2.02 per cent), male-to-male or bisexual relations (4.55 per cent), and mother-to-child transmission (2.2 per cent). Mode of transmission in 26.9 percent of the reported HIV/AIDS could not be established. The male-to-female ratio is 42:6 and 7:1 (per 100,000) in reported HIV-positive and AIDS cases, respectively. Limited available research indicates that HIV prevalence is 1 percent to 2 per cent in vulnerable or high-risk populations such as female sex workers and long-distance truck drivers.