The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has announced a nationwide anti-polio campaign scheduled from October 13 to 19, aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children under the age of five across Pakistan. This major immunisation effort is part of the country’s ongoing mission to eradicate polio and protect future generations from the crippling disease.
According to the NEOC, every child under five will receive oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops during the week-long campaign. In addition, children will be given an extra dose of Vitamin A to help strengthen their immune systems and enhance resistance to infections. More than 400,000 trained health workers will take part in the drive, going door to door to ensure that no eligible child is left unvaccinated.
Provincial data shows that the campaign will reach millions of children nationwide. In Punjab, over 23 million children will be vaccinated, while Sindh will cover more than 10.6 million. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the target is around 7.2 million children, and in Balochistan, over 2.6 million. Meanwhile, in Islamabad, more than 460,000 children will receive the vaccine, while over 760,000 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 280,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan will also be covered under the campaign.
The NEOC has appealed to parents and caregivers to ensure that all children under five receive their polio drops during the drive. Authorities have also urged families to complete routine immunisation schedules to protect children from other preventable diseases alongside polio.
Despite steady progress over the years, Pakistan continues to battle sporadic outbreaks of the disease. The number of confirmed polio cases in 2025 has risen to 29, with two new cases recently reported in Sindh. Pakistan remains one of only two polio-endemic countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan.
The country was close to eliminating polio in 2021 after a sharp decline in reported cases, but recent increases have raised fresh concerns. In 2024, Pakistan recorded 74 cases nationwide — 27 in Balochistan, 23 in Sindh, 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad.
Health officials stress that polio is an incurable disease that causes permanent paralysis, but timely vaccination can prevent it entirely. The upcoming campaign represents another crucial step in Pakistan’s continued fight to end polio and safeguard the health of millions of children.
