Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to eliminating polio, calling for intensified efforts and greater coordination at all levels — local, national, and international.
Presiding over a meeting of the Anti-Polio Task Force in Islamabad, the premier reaffirmed the government’s determination to protect every child from the debilitating disease. “We are fully committed to safeguarding every child in Pakistan and achieving a polio-free nation,” he stated.
Emphasising the need for sustained dedication, Shehbaz urged that all children across the country must receive multiple doses of the polio vaccine. He also stressed the importance of addressing both human transmission and the environmental persistence of the virus.
The prime minister acknowledged the progress achieved so far and commended frontline health workers, provincial governments, and law enforcement agencies for their vital roles in advancing the anti-polio drive.
He expressed special appreciation for Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman’s support, as well as for the contributions of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, particularly its Global Development Program led by Dr Christopher Elias. Shehbaz also recognised the continued efforts of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Rotary International, and KS Relief.
The meeting was briefed on targeted polio campaigns being implemented in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to address local challenges. These efforts focus not only on reaching unvaccinated children but also on eliminating the virus from environmental reservoirs.
Senior officials from the federal government, global health organisations, and chief secretaries from all four provinces, as well as representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad Capital Territory, attended the session.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to the safety of polio workers, PM Shehbaz directed all stakeholders to strengthen their collective actions. “With strong political resolve and international cooperation, a polio-free Pakistan is achievable,” he said.
The meeting followed confirmation of a new polio case in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a 19-month-old child tested positive, raising Pakistan’s 2025 case count to 14. Of these, eight have been reported from KP, with additional cases in Sindh (4), Punjab (1), and Gilgit-Baltistan (1).
Pakistan recorded a decade-high of 147 cases in 2019, but saw a significant decline in 2021. However, a resurgence in 2024, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, has underscored the need for sustained, targeted interventions.
