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Abstract
In Pakistan, HIV-positive people (PLHIV) face not only the challenges in a clinical context but also a continuous demeaning behaviour, social marginalisation, and language barrier that significantly undermine the emotional health of these people and their perceived quality of life. The study questions the role of pejorative language, moral judgment, and culturally embedded myths in defining the experiences of the PLHIV in Pakistani society. It has been shown empirically that stigma among the population activates emotional distress, chronic stress, anxiety, depression, social isolation, and workplace issues. Discrimination and financial distress. Culture and religion often portray HIV as a punishment for sinful behaviour, which only increases stigmatisation and prevents patients from seeking the right treatment or from revealing their status to the medical community. The findings highlight the urgent need for multilevel interventions, such as the use of stigma-sensitive communication in healthcare facilities, the integration of mental health services, community awareness programs, and partnerships between religious and community leaders to overcome harmful stereotypes. Verbal stigma and social exclusion should be addressed to increase the rate of treatment adherence, psychological health, and the overall quality of life of HIV patients in Pakistan.