Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally inaugurated the country’s first anti-polio drive of the year, signaling a renewed commitment to eradicate the poliovirus nationwide. At a ceremony in Islamabad, Sharif administered polio drops to children, underscoring the initiative’s importance.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sharif emphasized the government’s determination to eliminate polio from Pakistan, with millions of children set to be vaccinated across the country during this campaign. Coordination with international partners, including WHO, UNICEF, and Saudi Arabia, was also highlighted as a crucial element of the effort, with hopes of extending support to neighboring Afghanistan to combat the virus there as well.

The Prime Minister acknowledged and expressed gratitude towards the international community for their support in the fight against polio and other diseases. The campaign will see significant participation, with over 400,000 polio workers, including 225,000 women vaccinators, engaged in door-to-door vaccination efforts targeting children under five.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, urged parents to cooperate with polio workers during the seven-day campaign starting Monday. She called on families to welcome vaccinators into their homes to ensure their children’s protection against polio and other life-threatening diseases.