ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday handed over 20 four-wheel-drive (4x4) vehicles to Pakistan’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) to enhance immunisation activities and supervision in geographically challenging areas.

The cars will be assigned to 20 priority districts with a high concentration of children who have never been vaccinated (zero-dose children).

With financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the distribution plan allocates three vehicles each for Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan; two each for Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and at the federal level; and one each for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Speaking at the ceremony, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said that merely waiting for patients to come to hospitals was not the government’s vision. “Our mission is to prevent people from falling ill rather than only treating them after they become sick,” he emphasised.

He noted that Pakistan’s healthcare system was currently facing multiple challenges and became overwhelmed when a large number of people fall ill at the same time.

The minister cited the Covid-19 pandemic as a clear example, stating that even developed countries such as the United States struggled to fully manage the crisis.

He shared that nearly 6.2 million children are born in Pakistan every year, and the ecosystem from birth to healthy growth was far from ideal. “Our environment, water systems, and climate have unfortunately turned into factories producing disease,” he remarked.

Highlighting the pressure on hospitals, the minister said that healthcare facilities often resemble large public gatherings due to the overwhelming number of patients. On average, a single doctor attends to around 40 patients per day, while complaints regarding the unavailability of ventilators were received daily.

He warned that this situation has now become a national security issue.

The minister stressed the urgent need to protect Pakistanis from becoming patients in the first place.

Mustafa Kamal reaffirmed that the Government of Pakistan was providing free vaccination against 13 deadly diseases and urged the public to place their trust in immunisation.

WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Luo Dapeng said: “Reliable transport is essential for effective public health work. These vehicles will enhance regular supervision and resolve logistical issues on-site. WHO remains committed to partnering with Pakistan in strengthening its immunisation systems to protect every child from vaccine-preventable diseases. In Pakistan, vaccines are protecting millions of children every year, and WHO will continue to partner with Pakistan and its people to build a healthier future for all.”

Director General of the Federal Directorate of Immunisation (FDI) Dr Musa Khan said: “This ceremony marks a significant step forward in Pakistan’s health systems strengthening. The vehicles will strengthen our services in our conflict zones, ensuring that vaccines reach all our communities, and that no child is left behind.”

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2026