Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, Mr. Syed Mustafa Kamal, chaired a high-level oversight meeting with provincial health ministers today at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) in Islamabad to review Pakistan’s progress in eradicating polio and to strategize for the upcoming nationwide polio campaign.
Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, along with National and Provincial Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Coordinators, attended the session, which marked the first major inter-provincial engagement on polio since Mr. Kamal assumed office. The meeting underscored the federal government’s renewed commitment to ending the transmission of poliovirus in Pakistan.
With only six polio cases reported thus far in 2025—down from 74 in 2024—the forum recognized the program’s significant achievements, while also emphasizing the urgency of closing remaining immunity gaps in persistently high-risk areas.
Speaking at the session, Federal Health Minister Mr. Syed Mustafa Kamal stressed the importance of sustained action. “Health is a national priority, and eradicating polio is a moral obligation we owe to the children of this country,” he said. “We must build on the remarkable progress we have made but progress is not enough. I urge all provinces to double down on efforts, particularly in the core reservoirs where the virus continues to circulate silently.”
Mr. Kamal commended the tireless contributions of frontline workers and security personnel, calling them “the true heroes of our mission”. He added, “This program is a model of integrated public health action. The coordination between the Polio Eradication Initiative and the Expanded Programme on Immunization, supported by our national and international partners, is yielding real results. But the virus persists in Karachi, in Quetta Block, in South KP. Reaching every child and addressing missed children must be our top priority going forward.”
The upcoming National Immunisation Days (NIDs), set to commence on April 21, aim to vaccinate over 45 million children under the age of five through a network of 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 female vaccinators.
Highlighting the national strategy and momentum, Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, stated: “We stand at a decisive juncture in our fight against polio. The decline in cases from 74 to six reflects the strength of our approach and the commitment of our teams on the ground. But the virus still hides in places we have struggled to reach. The April campaign is a critical opportunity to press forward.”
She further elaborated that “The 2-4-6 strategic roadmap—comprising two national, four sub-national, and six case-response campaigns annually—has been instrumental in pushing back the virus. Large-scale campaigns conducted in the latter part of 2024 allowed millions of children to build stronger immunity. Today, we’re seeing fewer cases, stronger AFP surveillance, and increased negative environmental samples, even from hard-to-reach areas. But we must not grow complacent.”
Provincial health ministers reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating polio, pledging intensified efforts in core reservoir areas and deeper engagement with local communities and administrative structures.
The meeting also emphasized the need to reinforce accountability systems at the field level, integrate routine immunization with polio campaigns, and scale up localized communication strategies to reduce the number of missed children and refusals.
As Pakistan enters a critical phase in its polio eradication journey, today’s meeting reaffirmed that with coordinated efforts and unwavering political will, a polio-free future is within reach.
