Islamabad, September 29, 2025: Pakistan’s battle against polio suffered another setback as the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed two new cases from Sindh, raising the nationwide tally for 2025 to 29.
The latest cases were reported from Badin and Thatta, both involving young girls. With these detections, Sindh’s total this year has risen to nine. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the worst-hit province with 18 cases, followed by Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan with one case each.
Polio, a highly infectious and incurable disease, can cause lifelong paralysis. Health experts continue to emphasize that repeated doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for every child under five, along with routine immunisations, are the only effective protection.
In September, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) carried out a sub-national campaign in 88 districts, including Badin and Thatta, reaching nearly 21 million children. The next nationwide campaign is scheduled for October 13–19, aiming to immunise 45.4 million children. Over 400,000 trained frontline workers will go door-to-door, also providing Vitamin A supplements to boost immunity.
Officials reiterated that polio eradication requires collective responsibility. While vaccinators deliver the drops, parents and caregivers must ensure children receive every dose. Community leaders, teachers, religious figures, and media outlets have also been urged to support campaigns and counter misinformation.
Health authorities reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating polio, calling for united efforts to secure a polio-free future for every child.
