In a significant stride toward a polio-free future, Pakistan has reported no new polio cases since February 10, 2025, a milestone highlighted during a high-level meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday. The review session focused on the country’s ongoing efforts to eliminate polio, with the prime minister commending the tireless dedication of healthcare workers, polio volunteers, and global partners.
Addressing the meeting, Sharif stressed the need for heightened public engagement and awareness to sustain this progress. He urged authorities to ensure maximum participation in the upcoming nationwide anti-polio campaign, set to begin on April 21, 2025. “Our goal is clear: every child under five must be vaccinated during this drive,” he emphasized, underscoring the importance of protecting the nation’s youngest citizens.
The week-long campaign, running from April 21 to 27, aims to immunize approximately 4.5 million children across Pakistan. An impressive force of 415,000 polio workers will be deployed to deliver vaccines door-to-door, ensuring no child is left unprotected. To maintain transparency, the campaign’s effectiveness will be evaluated by independent validators from April 28 to 30, as directed by the prime minister.
Officials also showcased the use of advanced technology in the campaign, with a digital monitoring system tracking the vaccine cold chain to guarantee its potency and safety. Alongside polio eradication efforts, Sharif called for strengthening routine immunization programs to shield children from other preventable diseases.
The meeting saw participation from key figures, including Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, Special Representative on Polio Ayesha Raza Farooq, Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, provincial chief secretaries, and representatives from international health organizations, all united in their commitment to a polio-free Pakistan.
As the country prepares for the April campaign, the absence of new polio cases since February marks a hopeful chapter in Pakistan’s fight against the disease, bringing the nation closer to its goal of complete eradication.
