PAKISTAN’S fight against polio continues to be undermined not just by a stubborn virus, but also a persistent campaign of violence against those trying to eradicate it. Recent attacks in KP’s Hangu and Bannu, besides parts of Balochistan, killing police escorts and abducting polio workers, show how public health efforts in parts of the country still take place under the shadow of terrorism. The attacks coincide with the latest nationwide immunisation drive, when thousands of workers fan out to administer drops to millions of children. This is precisely when the programme is most vulnerable. Militants have long targeted such campaigns, often branding them as foreign plots or intelligence fronts — a belief that has taken root in the absence of sustained, locally led community engagement.

The setback is evident in both the data and persistence of transmission. Pakistan remains one of only two countries where polio is still endemic. While cases had fallen to single digits in recent years, progress has been uneven, with periodic spikes driven by missed children, vaccine refusals and disruptions to campaigns. Each attack compounds these challenges. Vaccinators withdraw, parents grow fearful and entire pockets are left unprotected. In epidemiological terms, even small gaps can allow the virus to circulate and resurface. The state’s response cannot be limited to security alone, though protection for front-line workers is non-negotiable. A more durable solution lies in rebuilding trust. This requires meaningful engagement with local communities, particularly through mosques and religious leaders who command influence at the grassroots level. Clerics can play a decisive role in countering misinformation and framing vaccination as a collective moral responsibility. Pakistan has come too far to allow violence and distrust to reverse its gains. Eradication is within reach, but only if the fight is waged not just with vaccines and police escorts, but also with persuasion, partnership and public confidence.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2026