World Polio Day 2025

As the world marks World Polio Day 2025, Pakistan stands at a critical juncture in its decades-long battle to eliminate the crippling disease. Despite remarkable progress, Pakistan remains one of only two countries—alongside Afghanistan—where the wild poliovirus still circulates.

This year’s theme, “Together for a Polio-Free World,” resonates strongly across Pakistan, where health workers, security personnel, and volunteers continue to risk their lives to reach every child with the life-saving polio vaccine.

According to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, over 45 million children under the age of five are being vaccinated across the country in ongoing national immunization drives. Special focus is being placed on high-risk areas, including Karachi, Quetta, Khyber, and North Waziristan, where recent detections of the virus in sewage samples have raised concern.

Federal Minister for Health Dr. Nadeem Jan reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to eradicate the disease, emphasizing that “polio eradication is not just a health goal — it is a national responsibility.” He added that extensive monitoring, improved coordination with provinces, and enhanced community engagement remain the core pillars of Pakistan’s anti-polio strategy.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have lauded Pakistan’s efforts in maintaining one of the most extensive vaccination networks in the world, with over 350,000 frontline workers delivering door-to-door vaccines, even in remote mountainous and border regions.

However, challenges persist — particularly in combating misinformation and resistance among a small segment of communities. The government, in partnership with media and religious scholars, has launched awareness campaigns to reassure parents that the vaccine is safe, effective, and vital for their children’s future.

Polio survivor and advocate Sohail Khan from Peshawar shared a heartfelt message on the occasion: “Each drop of vaccine means hope — no child should suffer what we went through. Pakistan must unite to end polio once and for all.”

With continued international support, strengthened political will, and the tireless dedication of health workers, Pakistan aims to achieve zero polio cases by the end of 2026 — a milestone that would bring the world closer to complete eradication of this preventable disease.