ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially inaugurated Pakistan’s first anti-polio campaign of 2025, aiming to eliminate the poliovirus nationwide. The initiative, announced during a formal ceremony in Islamabad, is set to vaccinate millions of children across the country.
According to a statement by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Prime Minister administered polio drops to children at the event and expressed his commitment to eradicating polio from Pakistan. The campaign, supported by international partners, also seeks to extend efforts to neighboring Afghanistan through joint cooperation.
Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the contributions of global partners like WHO, UNICEF, and Saudi Arabia, who have supported Pakistan in combating polio and other diseases.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, highlighted the involvement of over 400,000 polio workers, including 225,000 women vaccinators, who will conduct a door-to-door campaign targeting children under five. The week-long drive is scheduled to commence on Monday.
Farooq urged parents to cooperate with the vaccination teams to ensure their children’s protection against polio and other illnesses.