From May 26 to June 1, 2025, Pakistan has launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign, targeting 45.4 million children under five. Over 400,000 dedicated frontline workers will go door-to-door across our cities, villages, and remote valleys to administer life-saving polio drops. This effort is a cornerstone of our mission to eradicate polio and secure a healthier future for our nation.
I fully support my daughter and the First Lady, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, whose tireless advocacy and efforts has galvanized our nation in this fight against Polio. Her call to unite parents, community leaders, and youth reminds us that eradicating polio is our shared responsibility.
Today, I also pay tribute to our brave polio workers, who risk their lives to reach every child, often in the face of grave danger. We also honour those polio workers and security officials who have made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives to cowardly attacks aimed at derailing our efforts to make Pakistan polio-free. I also condemn the attack on a polio team in Naushki, in which a police official lost his life, and offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Their courage and sacrifice inspire us all to save our children from this crippling disease.
Since the 1990s, we have made remarkable progress as Pakistan has reduced polio cases by over 99% through relentless vaccination drives, robust surveillance, and the courage of our health workers. Yet, the battle is not over. The 2024 surge in cases, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, signals that we must intensify our efforts. We must protect our polio workers as well as dispell myths about the polio vaccine. Remote areas and mobile populations remain hard to reach, requiring innovative tools to ensure no child is missed. Above all, we must sustain high vaccination coverage to fully eliminate this virus.
Today, we reiterate our commitment that we will not rest until polio is fully eradicated. We have the tools, the will, and the support of our global partners to make this vision a reality. I call on parents to open their doors to vaccinators, ensuring every child receives the life-saving polio drops. I urge teachers, religious leaders, and community elders to champion this noble cause, dispelling myths and building trust. I appeal to the media to amplify the truth: the polio vaccine is safe, effective, and our best weapon.
I am confident that together, we can make Pakistan polio-free. Let us seize this moment to vaccinate every child and protect our people from the crippling threat of the polio virus.
