Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) has notified Technical Advisory Committee to review, refine, and finalize the draft Khyber Pakhtunkhwa HIV and AIDS (Prevention, Control, Treatment and Protection) Bill.
The committee has been constituted following the directions of Minister for Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khaleeq Ur Rehman.
The committee will be chaired by the Chairperson of KPCSW, Dr. Sumera Shams, with the Director General Health Services serving as Co-Chair and the Secretary KPCSW serving as Convener/Secretary, while Program Director of HIV, AIDS, Thalassaemia and TB Control Program will provide technical leadership.
Other members include MPAs Ms. Shazia Tehmas, Rehana Ismail, Ex- Additional Director General Health Services, Director Public Health Khyber Medical University and Program Manager Blue Veins, Qamar Naseem.
According to the notification, the committee has been tasked with reviewing and examining the draft Khyber Pakhtunkhwa HIV and AIDS legislation in light of recommendations emerging from provincial consultations and stakeholder engagements.
The committee will also recommend legal, technical, and policy amendments to ensure alignment with the Constitution of Pakistan, applicable federal and provincial laws, scientific evidence, and internationally recognized human rights principles
It will further review implementation mechanisms and institutional responsibilities, recommend measures for effective enforcement of the bill to ensure equitable access to healthcare, justice, education, employment, and social protection and undertake consultations with relevant stakeholders to build consensus on the draft legislation.
The finalized draft of the bill will be submitted by the committee to the Office of Minister for Health within the period of one month.
Provincial Minister for Health, Khaleeq Ur Rehman, stated, “The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is committed to introducing a comprehensive legal framework that strengthens the province’s HIV/AIDS response and ensures access to quality healthcare without discrimination.
The committee’s technical expertise will help produce legislation that is practical, responsive, and aligned with provincial and national priorities and international best practices.”
Dr. Sumera Shams, Chairperson Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women, said, “Through the constitution of this committee, KPCSW wants to developing a rights-based, evidence-informed, and inclusive legal framework for HIV prevention, treatment, care, and protection in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’. ‘Through broad stakeholder engagement, we aim to ensure that the legislation safeguards the dignity, privacy, and fundamental rights of all persons living with HIV, especially women, while strengthening accountability within the health system’, she added.
Shazia Atta, Secretary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women noted, “By bringing together policymakers, representatives from health department, public health experts, and civil society, the committee provides a platform to ensure that perspectives of all the stakeholders are reflected and a technically sound legislation is developed’.
Civil society organisations have also welcomed the notification of the committee as a timely intervention.
Qamar Naseem, Program Manager, Blue Veins remarked, ‘The constitution of the Technical Advisory Committee marks a significant step towards strengthening Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s legal and institutional response to HIV and AIDS, advancing a more inclusive, rights-based public health framework and improving public health outcomes across the province.’
Public health remains a key priority for the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Health Department remains committed to improving health outcomes for people living with HIV by strengthening HIV/AIDS response efforts and ensuring access to quality, equitable, and stigma-free healthcare services across the province.