Islamabad, Feb 2 (PTI) – Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday formally inaugurated the country’s first anti-polio drive of the year, reaffirming his government’s commitment to eradicating the crippling disease.
At a ceremony held in Islamabad, Sharif personally administered polio drops to children, symbolizing the launch of the seven-day nationwide vaccination campaign, scheduled from February 3 to 9. The initiative will see over 400,000 polio workers, including 225,000 female vaccinators, going door to door to immunize children under the age of five.
Government’s Commitment to Eradication
Addressing the launch event, the prime minister expressed strong determination to eliminate polio from Pakistan, emphasizing that millions of children across the country will receive the vaccine during the campaign.He lauded the dedication of polio teams, stating they would work tirelessly to ensure vaccination reaches even the most remote and rural areas. “These teams will successfully fulfill their responsibility by putting in their utmost efforts,” Sharif said.
Cross-Border Coordination With Afghanistan
Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted Pakistan’s collaboration with international partners, including WHO, UNICEF, and Saudi Arabia, in tackling polio. He noted that Islamabad maintains close coordination with Kabul to eradicate the poliovirus from Afghanistan, one of the only two countries, alongside Pakistan, where the disease remains endemic.Challenges and Rising Polio Cases
The prime minister acknowledged rising polio cases in Pakistan, revealing that 77 cases were reported last year, with the first case of 2025 detected last month. Despite the challenges, he vowed to eliminate the virus at all costs.The focal person on polio eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams, stressing the importance of protecting children from polio and other deadly diseases.
Resistance and Attacks on Polio Workers
Pakistan continues to face resistance from extremist factions, which propagate misinformation about the vaccine. Many reluctant parents, influenced by false narratives, refuse to allow vaccination. Moreover, polio workers have been frequent targets of violent attacks, as extremists falsely claim that the vaccination campaign is a conspiracy to sterilize Muslims.Despite these challenges, the government remains steadfast in its mission to eradicate polio, ensuring a safer future for the country’s children.
