• Ayesha Raza attributes the achievement to effective strategies and sustained anti-polio campaigns
• Urges parents to ensure vaccination for children under five during the polio drive starting February 2

QUETTA: Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Senator Ayesha Raza, has said that although the poliovirus still exists in some areas of the province, no polio case has been reported from any part of Balochistan for the past 15 months due to an effective and sustained strategy and successful anti-polio campaigns.

She made these remarks while speaking to the media after meeting polio workers on Thursday. She urged parents to ensure that their children under the age of five years receive polio drops and vaccinations during the anti-polio campaign starting from February 2.

Senator Ayesha Raza paid tribute to the courage and dedication of frontline workers, particularly wo­men, who continue to go door to door to vaccinate children despite challenging conditions. She said that the complete eradication of po­­liovirus is only possible through the tireless efforts of these workers.

She noted that accountability measures have been taken against individuals found negligent during the polio campaigns. Referring to funding challenges, she said that although Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding has dec­lined, the reduction would not be allowed to affect the polio eradication programme. She added that steps are also being taken to inc­rease the salaries of polio workers.

Ms Raza said that Balochistan is a critically important region for polio eradication, and her visit to Quetta reflects the prime minister’s clear message that the province remains a top national priority. She emphasised that without strong and sustained progress in Balochistan, the complete eradication of polio from Pakistan is not possible.

During her visit, she said, she met the chief minister and the chief secretary of Balochistan and assured them of the federal government’s full support for polio eradication efforts in the province. She praised the commitment of the provincial government, which she said has played a key role in maintaining momentum in the fight against polio.

Describing frontline workers as the backbone of Pakistan’s polio eradication programme, Senator Ayesha Raza said that more than 400,000 frontline workers are engaged in polio campaigns across the country, including Balo­chistan. Despite difficult conditions, she said, their dedication and hard work remain the real strength behind ongoing anti-polio efforts.

She highlighted the crucial role of women frontline workers in accessing children, particularly in areas where concerns and resistance to polio vaccination persist. As the Gender Champion of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), she reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring a safe, dignified, and supportive working environment for women.

She further said that during her visit she held direct interactions with women frontline workers to hear their views, learn from their experiences, and take practical steps to address their issues so they can perform their duties with dignity. She stressed the importance of including women workers in national-level policymaking and dec­ision-making processes to effectively resolve issues related to their work.

Senator Ayesha Raza concluded by saying that supporting and encouraging wom­en associated with the polio eradication programme — whether working on the frontline or at any other level — is a shared responsibility of all stakeholders.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2026