Pakistan PM vows to eradicate polio by 2025 amid rising concerns over new cases

In this handout photograph, taken and released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a review meeting regarding Polio Eradication Program in Karachi on August 9, 2024. (Photo courtesy: PMO)

• Sharif chairs a meeting to review the government’s polio strategy following the emergence of 13 cases this year
• He instructs authorities to administer vaccine to children across the country, particularly in militancy-hit areas

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed concern over the emergence of new polio cases as he vowed to eradicate the disease from Pakistan by 2025 and instructed authorities to ensure the vaccine is administered to children in areas where inoculation drives have been targeted by militants.
Polio is a highly infectious disease that affects children under the age of five by invading their nervous system, leading to paralysis or even death, with Pakistan and Afghanistan remaining the only countries in the world where it is still endemic.
Pakistan has reported 13 cases this year, creating significant concern among local health authorities and foreign donors working to eradicate the disease. Polio vaccination efforts in Pakistan have been hampered by various factors, including parental refusal in remote areas and the targeting of polio teams in militancy-infested regions.
The prime minister chaired a meeting in Karachi, which was also attended via video link by Bill Gates of the Gates Foundation and Dr. Chris Elias of Global Development, to review the overall situation.
“The prime minister stressed the goal of completely eradicating the virus by 2025 and directed that all state resources be utilized to achieve this, ensuring that every child in Pakistan receives multiple doses of the polio vaccine, especially in security-challenged areas,” said a statement circulated by his office.
“He noted the concern over new polio cases but expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of provincial governments and partners, the disease could be defeated,” it added.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate polio and thanked the Gates Foundation for its support, particularly in the health care sector.
He also expressed gratitude to other governmental partners involved in the polio eradication efforts, emphasizing a whole-of-government approach.
The meeting was briefed on the current polio strategy, with reports of recent polio cases in Qila Abdullah in Balochistan and Chakwal in Punjab province.
It also discussed the improvement in monitoring systems for polio eradication and the positive progress in coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Pakistani government officials also highlighted their plan to launch nationwide polio vaccination campaigns in September, October and December this year.