Islamabad, November 13,2026: The Government of Japan has announced a grant of US$4.3 million to support Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts through the procurement of more than 28 million doses of oral polio vaccine for vaccination campaigns in 2027.
According to a statement issued by the Japanese Embassy in Islamabad on Friday, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) will utilise the grant to procure the vaccines as part of ongoing efforts to interrupt poliovirus transmission across the country.
Pakistan is among only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus transmission has not yet been interrupted. However, the country has made progress in reducing infections, with reported cases declining from 74 in 2024 to 31 in 2025. Eight cases have been reported so far in 2026, including six in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where insecurity and limited access continue to hamper vaccination efforts.
The statement said the continued detection of poliovirus highlighted the need for sustained efforts to protect children and interrupt transmission nationwide.
To accelerate eradication efforts, the Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with international partners, has developed the National Emergency Action Plan 2026–27 under the Roadmap to Zero, which aims to interrupt poliovirus transmission by the end of 2027.
Each nationwide immunisation campaign targets more than 45 million children under the age of five, with over 400,000 frontline health workers playing a key role in reaching communities and administering vaccines.
Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said Japan’s contribution had come at a critical time as Pakistan intensified its efforts to eliminate the preventable disease.
She expressed gratitude to the Japanese government and people for their continued support, saying every vaccine dose would bring the country closer to becoming polio-free.
Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Akamatsu Shuichi reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s health priorities, noting that Japan had consistently supported polio eradication efforts since 1996 in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners.
He said the latest grant, which had been increased from the previous year’s contribution, reflected Japan’s continued commitment to the shared goal of a polio-free Pakistan. He also expressed support for Pakistan’s target of interrupting poliovirus transmission by the end of 2027.
JICA Pakistan Office Chief Representative Yusuke Shinozaki commended the Pakistani government’s commitment, the dedication of frontline health workers and the efforts of UNICEF and other partners in delivering vaccines to children, particularly in challenging circumstances.
UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside also welcomed Japan’s contribution, saying the funding would help sustain high-quality vaccination campaigns and ensure that every child was reached.
She appreciated Japan’s longstanding partnership and said continued international cooperation was essential to achieving a polio-free future.
Since 1996, the Government of Japan has contributed more than US$248 million in grants and loans through UNICEF to support polio vaccination activities and Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate the disease.
