Islamabad, April 17, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed on Thursday that no new polio case has been reported in Pakistan since February 10, 2025, owing to intensified nationwide eradication efforts.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on the national polio eradication campaign, the prime minister lauded the efforts of government institutions, international partners, and frontline workers in striving to make Pakistan polio-free.
He directed authorities to boost public awareness and community mobilization ahead of the next anti-polio campaign scheduled from April 21 to April 27.
“It must be ensured that every child under the age of five is administered the polio vaccine during the upcoming campaign,” the prime minister stressed. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining routine immunizations to protect against other life-threatening diseases.
Commending the commitment of polio workers, PM Sharif said, “Despite difficult circumstances, these workers are playing a frontline role in the fight against polio. The entire nation, including myself, is proud of their dedication.”
During the briefing, it was revealed that the upcoming campaign will aim to vaccinate 4.5 million children, with the participation of over 415,000 polio workers across the country.
Officials further informed the meeting that, in line with the prime minister’s directive, third-party validation of the campaign will be conducted from April 28 to April 30. The cold chain logistics for the vaccines are also being monitored through a digital tracking system.
The meeting was attended by Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal, Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Polio Ayesha Raza Farooq, Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, chief secretaries of all provinces and territories, as well as representatives from international organizations and development partners.
