On World Polio Day, I call upon all Pakistanis to continue working towards a polio-free Pakistan. Protecting every child from this preventable disease requires sustained efforts by the Government, health workers, parents and communities across the country.
Pakistan has made significant progress towards polio eradication. The number of cases has fallen by 99.8%, from an estimated 20,000 cases annually in the early 1990s to 31 cases in 2025 and five so far in 2026.
This progress reflects the sustained efforts of the Government, frontline health workers, parents, communities and development partners. Their continued cooperation is essential to protecting children and ensuring that vaccination reaches every part of the country.
Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio have a long history. In 1994, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto launched the country’s first nationwide polio vaccination campaign and personally administered polio drops to her daughter, Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari.
I pay tribute to the more than 400,000 frontline polio workers, 60 per cent of whom are women, who serve communities across Pakistan. Their dedication and courage are central to the effort to eradicate this disease. They must be supported in reaching every child, including those who are missed during vaccination campaigns.
I urge all parents and caregivers to ensure that every child under five receives two drops during each polio campaign. Routine immunisation must also remain a priority to protect children against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
I call upon community representatives, religious and political leaders, civil society, the media and development partners to continue supporting polio eradication efforts and encourage parents to have their children vaccinated.
We must sustain these efforts until every child in Pakistan is protected against polio and the country achieves its goal of a polio-free future.
