Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to eradicating Polio, highlighting a significant decline in reported cases during 2026.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office Pakistan, the prime minister emphasised that sustained coordination between federal and provincial governments, frontline health workers, and international partners remains essential to achieving a polio-free Pakistan.
Officials briefed the meeting that only one polio case has been reported so far in 2026, from Sujawal district. This marks a major improvement compared to 74 cases in 2024 and 31 cases in 2025, reflecting a steady downward trend.
Encouragingly, no cases have been reported this year from major regions including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Nationwide anti-polio campaigns have achieved approximately 98% vaccination coverage, indicating strong outreach and public participation.
Health officials also highlighted notable progress in high-risk areas. In Bannu, the number of high-risk union councils has dropped significantly from 62 to just six. Similarly, environmental surveillance in Karachi has shown reduced presence of the poliovirus, signaling improved containment efforts.
The government is now working to further strengthen its strategy by integrating the Expanded Programme on Immunization with the Polio Eradication Initiative. This integration aims to enhance vaccination efficiency and ensure broader immunisation coverage across the country.
Additionally, authorities are considering linking social welfare initiatives such as the Benazir Income Support Programme with anti-polio campaigns to improve access and outreach in vulnerable communities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz praised the dedication of frontline workers and reiterated that eliminating polio remains a top national priority. He stressed that continued collaboration and consistent vaccination efforts are key to completely eradicating the disease from Pakistan.
