On 21 May 2026, the Association of People Living with HIV (APLHIV) Pakistan, in partnership with and supported by Global Fund Advocates Network Asia-Pacific (GFAN AP), convened a High-Level Appreciation & Advocacy Get-Together in Islamabad. Held in collaboration with Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination and the UNAIDS Country Office, the gathering brought together more than 80 participants, including parliamentarians, diplomatic representatives, government officials, United Nations agencies and community leaders.
The event had two linked aims: to thank donor countries for their support to the Global Fund, and to make the case for sustained international investment alongside stronger domestic financing for Pakistan’s HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria responses. Representatives of Canada, Japan and Spain joined the discussion, as did members of Pakistan’s Senate, National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies.
Bringing Community Priorities into the Room
The gathering followed APLHIV’s national community consultation on 19–21 May. Dr Nashmia Mehmood, APLHIV’s community, rights and gender consultant, presented priorities identified through that process for the 2027–2029 Global Fund funding request. This placed the experiences and proposals of affected communities directly before the policymakers and diplomatic representatives who can help shape the response.
APLHIV National Coordinator Asghar Satti set out advocacy asks for donor governments and parliamentarians. These included honouring Global Fund commitments, investing in community-led and rights-based programmes, increasing national and provincial health budgets, and making community participation a regular part of programme design and oversight.
Commitments to Sustain the Response
Parliamentary speakers expressed support for stronger domestic investment in HIV, TB and malaria programmes. Senator Pir Sabir Shah, the event’s chief guest, acknowledged the need for parliamentarians to better understand the three disease responses and said he would play a role in advocating for increased health funding. Other elected representatives voiced support for community-based organisations and budget allocations. Representatives of Canada, Japan and Spain reaffirmed the importance of continued partnership.
The discussion underscored a practical message: protecting access to treatment, prevention and care requires reliable funding and a meaningful role for the communities who use and deliver those services. APLHIV and GFAN AP will carry the priorities raised in Islamabad into continued engagement on Pakistan’s Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 planning and domestic health financing.
As the #MoreNowThanEver campaign reminds us, the gains made against HIV, TB and malaria depend on commitments that reach people and services. Community leadership must remain central to how those commitments are made and delivered.