More than 4.5 million parents across Pakistan have already chosen to protect their daughters from cervical cancer by saying yes to the HPV vaccine as of today— a powerful testament of trust and commitment to a healthier future. The number continues to grow every day as the national campaign runs until 27 September 2025.
State Minister for National Health, Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, visited the HPV vaccination site at Islamabad Model School for Girls (IMSG), G-6/1-3, to witness this historic public health effort in action. The visit was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI, MoNHSR&C.
Distinguished participants at the event included Dr. Soofia Yunus, Director General of the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI); Dr. Khurram Akram, Director (Technical), FDI Islamabad; Ms. Sharmeela Rasool, Deputy Country Representative, UNICEF Pakistan; Ms. Ellen Thon, Deputy WHO Representative, Pakistan; and Dr. Rashida Batool, District Health Officer (DHO) and Ms. Mehreen Balooch Assistant Commissioner ICT. Collectively, they reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to advancing Pakistan’s mission to protect every eligible girl from cervical cancer and ensure a healthier future for the next generation. Their presence and engagement reflected the joint commitment of national and international partners to protect every girl from cervical cancer.
“This campaign is more than a vaccination drive – it is a promise of a healthier future for our daughters. Every girl vaccinated is a life protected, a family safeguarded, and a future secured,” said Dr. Bharath.
He highlighted that cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in Pakistan, with two out of three women diagnosed not surviving. The HPV vaccine, he stressed, is a safe, effective, and scientifically proven solution to prevent cervical cancer and save lives. Citing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he emphasized that increasing HPV coverage among girls averts more deaths per person vaccinated than any other immunization activity.
Reassuring parents, Dr. Bharath underscored that the HPV vaccine is halal, endorsed by leading Islamic scholars, and already part of the national immunization schedules of Muslim-majority countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia, Qatar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
“Protecting life (Hifz al-Nafs) is among the highest obligations in Islam. Shielding our daughters from a preventable disease is both a moral and religious duty,” he stated.
Pakistan’s HPV vaccination campaign is aligned with the World Health Organization’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, which seeks to ensure that 90% of girls worldwide are vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15 by 2030. The campaign is being implemented in three phases: Phase 1, running from 15–27 September 2025, is covering Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the Islamabad Capital Territory; Phase 2 will expand the effort to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2026; and Phase 3 will reach Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan in 2027.
The goal is to vaccinate 90% of girls aged 9–14 years in Phase 1 regions by the end of 2025, and to sustain high coverage through routine immunization in the coming years.
Dr. Bharath praised the Ministry of National Health Services, the Federal Directorate of Immunization, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, provincial health departments, teachers, frontline health workers, community mobilizers, civil society organizations, and religious leaders for their relentless dedication. He also appreciated parents and community influencers who are encouraging others to vaccinate their daughters.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Bharath called on all parents to join this national effort:
“The HPV vaccine is safe, free, and available to every eligible girl. By protecting their health today, we are safeguarding their education, their future, and their ability to contribute to society. Let us keep this momentum going until every eligible girl is reached.”
