By Ikram Junaidi
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Sheh-baz Sharif on Thursday reaffirmed Pakis-tan鈥檚 commitment to eradicating polio, vowing to intensify efforts with the support of international, provincial, and local teams to achieve a polio-free country.
鈥淲e are committed to protect every child in Pakistan from this crippling disease and achieve a polio-free Pakistan,鈥 PM Shehbaz said while presiding over a meeting on polio eradication.
He stressed the need for 鈥渇ull dedi-cation and seriousness鈥 to ensure every child receives multiple doses of the polio vaccine.
The prime minister acknowledged significant progress in the fight against polio, crediting frontline workers, government commitment, and support from partners.
He praised the cooperation of provincial governments, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and law enforcement agencies in the anti-polio campaign, emphasising, 鈥淭he safety of polio workers is our top priority.鈥
In meeting with Polio Oversight Board delegation, health minister claims country will soon be polio-free
The premier expressed gratitude to all partners, extending special thanks to Saudi Crown Prince Mo–hammed bin Salman for his co–m-prehensive support, and lauded the Gates Foundation鈥檚 鈥渧ital and commendable role鈥 in the campaign.
During the briefing, officials said specific polio campaigns are being designed for each district in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, tailored to local challenges, to ensure complete eradication of the virus.
The campaign also targets the virus鈥檚 environmental presence.
鈥楶olio-free Pakistan鈥
Separately, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal told a high-level Polio Ov-ersight Board delegation that Pakistan will soon be polio-free, as the country
is utilising all state resources to achieve the goal.
鈥淥ur health workers have sacrificed their lives in this fight against polio, which is testament to our unwavering commitment,鈥 Mr Kamal said.
Mr Kamal briefed the delegation on ongoing eradication efforts, challenges, and the strategic way forward, emphasising that polio eradication remains a top national priority.
He noted that poliovirus remains endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which are considered a single epidemiological block.
鈥淲e are conducting synchronised campaigns to prevent cross-border transmission and are giving special attention to mobile and migratory populations. Our goal is for both Pakistan and Afghanistan to achieve polio-free status simultaneously,鈥 he said.
So far this year, 14 polio cases have been reported in Pakistan: eight from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Bal-tistan. Islam-abad, Balochistan, and Azad Jam-mu and Kashmir remain polio-free.
Last year, 74 cases were reported nationwide.
Syed Irfan Raza also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2025