Islamabad, April 20, 2025 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif kicked off a seven-day nationwide anti-polio campaign on Sunday, personally administering polio drops to children at a public event. The initiative aims to vaccinate millions of children under five and move Pakistan closer to eradicating the poliovirus.
In his address, the Prime Minister urged parents to work closely with polio vaccination teams to ensure no child is missed. “Together, we can eliminate polio from our nation,” he said, emphasizing the power of unified efforts. He highlighted the government’s commitment to the cause, with enhanced security measures in place to protect frontline health workers and a strategy designed to maximize outreach.
The campaign relies heavily on community engagement, with the Prime Minister calling for increased public awareness to counter misinformation and resistance. He also expressed gratitude to global partners, including the World Health Organization and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for their continued support in Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.
Meanwhile, in Karachi, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal spoke at an event hosted by the Health Research Advisory Board. He acknowledged Pakistan’s progress in healthcare research but pointed out challenges in translating efforts into effective action. Comparing Pakistan’s efforts to those of neighboring Afghanistan, Kamal noted that Afghanistan’s polio eradication strategies have shown promising results. “We must learn from their success and strengthen our approach,” he said, expressing hope that both nations could achieve a polio-free future together.
The anti-polio campaign will see thousands of health workers visiting homes and setting up vaccination points across urban and rural areas. Authorities have emphasized that the oral polio vaccine is safe, effective, and critical to protecting children from the debilitating disease.
As Pakistan intensifies its efforts, the government is calling on all citizens to support the campaign and help secure a healthier future for the nation’s children.
