Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to eradicating polio in Pakistan, emphasizing a united approach to eliminate the disease entirely from the country.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, during a recent meeting focused on polio eradication, Prime Minister Sharif declared, “We will not rest until we have permanently defeated polio.” He praised the government’s polio eradication team for their efforts and directed key health officials, including Coordinator for National Health Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, Polio Focal Person Ayesha Raza Farooq, and the Secretary of National Health, to visit the most affected areas to oversee and enhance the ongoing polio campaigns.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister called for a third-party audit of the anti-polio campaign to ensure its effectiveness and transparency. He also stressed the importance of developing a comprehensive strategy to close the immunity gap among children who are still at risk.

During the briefing, it was reported that there are currently 41 active polio cases in Pakistan, with a significant number of these cases occurring in areas with poor routine immunization coverage. It was also noted that regions with higher vaccination rates have experienced fewer outbreaks, underscoring the need for robust and widespread vaccination efforts.

The meeting was attended by high-level health officials and senior government representatives, highlighting the national priority of polio eradication in the face of ongoing challenges.