ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday launched its first nationwide anti-polio campaign of 2026, aiming to vaccinate more than 45 million children under the age of five as part of renewed efforts to eliminate the virus.
Health authorities said the seven-day drive will run from February 2 to February 8, with around 400,000 trained vaccinators deployed across the country to administer oral polio drops through door-to-door visits.
Pakistan remains one of only two countries worldwide where polio is still endemic. Officials reported 31 polio cases last year, a sharp decline from 74 cases recorded in 2024.
The prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, said the campaign targets children in all provinces, including Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with staggered operations depending on local conditions.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah formally launched the campaign in Karachi by administering polio drops to children, urging families to cooperate fully with vaccination teams.
The National Emergency Operations Center said six nationwide campaigns were conducted in 2025 and appealed to parents to ensure every eligible child receives the vaccine.
Authorities acknowledged ongoing challenges, including security risks to vaccination workers in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as well as disruptions caused by natural disasters in recent years. Despite these hurdles, officials reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a polio-free Pakistan.
