ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched this year’s second nationwide polio campaign, starting from April 21 to 27, and vowed to achieve ‘roaring success’ in the effort.

Pakistan is one of the only two countries where polio remains endemic. Despite global efforts to eradicate the virus, challenges such as security issues, vaccine hesitancy, and misinformation have slowed progress.

The PM reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicate polio from the country, announcing the launch of a fresh seven-day national polio campaign aimed at vaccinating millions of children under the age of five.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the premier said that the government, along with health authorities, was making tireless efforts to eliminate the virus once and for all.

Premier acknowledges challenges in ‘security-sensitive areas’, says measures being taken to protect field teams

“Today marks the beginning of another nationwide polio campaign. With Allah’s grace, we are vaccinating children not only here, but across the country including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

He praised the efforts of the health ministry, particularly federal health minister Mustafa Kamal, and coordinator to the PM Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, as well as frontline health workers for their dedication. “I urge all parents to fully cooperate with field teams to ensure every child is vaccinated,” he added.

Acknowledging challenges in some security-sensitive areas, he said that robust measures have been taken to ensure the safety of teams and smooth implementation of the drive.

“We must mobilise communities in every neighborhood and street to support this national cause,” he emphasised. The premier also extended heartfelt thanks to international partners such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), Bill & Melinda Gates Foun­dation, and other stakeholders for their continued support.

“With your cooperation and our collective resolve, I am confident we will achieve permanent relief from this dangerous disease,” he said.

PM Shehbaz was informed earlier this week that as a result of the dedicated nationwide polio campaigns, not a single case of polio had been reported in the country since Feb 10.

He emphasised that nationwide routine immunisation for protection against other dangerous diseases should also be fully ensured alongside the seven-day campaign.

The prime minister was briefed that a total of 415,000 polio workers would participate in the countrywide drive.

As per prime minister’s instructions, a third-party validation of the campaign would also be completed from April 28 to 30.

Last year, Pakistan reported more than 70 polio cases, with the virus detected in environmental samples drawn from around 90 districts.

This year’s first nationwide polio vaccination campaign was held in February, followed by a fractional IPV-OPV Polio (injectable polio vaccine) campaign in Quetta and Karachi on Feb 20 and 22, respectively.

Around one million children were targeted for vaccination in this campaign, according to the officials.

According to the government, 45.4 million children will be administered the polio vaccine. “Throughout Pakistan, tens of millions of children will be given polio drops. This will include Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and all of us pray that the Ministry of Health, their teams and provincial teams will be successful in eradicating polio from Pakistan,” the PM said.

He appealed to parents across the country to help the government and polio teams in the field to make this campaign a success. He said elaborate security arrangements had been made for the areas with security issues.

The PM is hopeful that efforts to eradicate the polio-virus are bearing fruit as no new case of the crippling disease has been reported in more than two months with the last case of 2025 being reported on Feb 10.

PIA flights to Baku

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed pleasure over the start of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) direct flights from Lahore to Baku.

The premier said that direct flights from Lahore to Baku would help promote the tourism sector.

On the pattern of PIA direct flights from Lahore to Baku, PIA direct flights would also be started to other ‘friendly countries’ very soon, he announced.

The prime minister said that it was big achievement for Pakistan on the diplomatic level.

PM Shehbaz said, “Azerbaijan is among the best friends of Pakistan in this region. We want to collaborate with Azerbaijan in tourism and other sectors.”

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2025