PM Shehbaz Sharif launches first nationwide anti-Polio drive of 2025

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has officially launched Pakistan’s first nationwide anti-polio campaign for 2025, aiming to vaccinate millions of children under the age of five. The immunization drive, scheduled from February 3 to February 9, reflects the government’s commitment to eradicating polio from the country.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed his government’s determination to eliminate the crippling disease. He emphasized that polio eradication is a national priority and acknowledged the hard work of polio vaccination teams, who are tasked with reaching even the most remote and far-flung areas.

The prime minister noted that 2024 was a challenging year, with 73 polio cases reported nationwide, including 27 in Balochistan, 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22 in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad. This year, however, only one polio case has been reported so far, in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on January 22.

PM Shehbaz expressed his firm resolve to eradicate polio at all costs, citing dedicated teamwork and strong international collaboration as key factors in achieving this goal. He acknowledged the contributions of international partners such as WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all of whom have been supporting Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.

Dr. Mukhtar Bharat, the PM’s Coordinator on National Health Services, stated that transparency in reporting polio cases had been maintained, ensuring credibility with international health bodies. Meanwhile, PM’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, Aysha Raza Farooq, called for collective efforts from all segments of society, urging parents to actively participate in the vaccination campaign and protect their children from this preventable disease.

Pakistan remains one of the few countries in the world where polio is still endemic. The government has reiterated its commitment to conducting multiple vaccination drives throughout the year under the Pakistan Polio Programme and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), ensuring that all children under five receive multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine.

The fight against polio extends beyond Pakistan, as PM Shehbaz also expressed hope that polio eradication efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s neighboring country, would also succeed through international coordination and support.

With this latest campaign, Pakistan is moving one step closer to becoming a polio-free nation, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding future generations against the disease.