ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s fight against polio received major boost as the World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirmed its confidence in the country’s progress and pledged continued support to help achieve the long-awaited goal of stopping wild poliovirus transmission.
During a high-level visit to Pakistan, WHO Regional Director for Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy praised the country’s leadership, vaccination efforts, and dedicated health workforce, saying Pakistan now stands at a crucial moment where ending polio transmission is within reach.
Balkhy visited Pakistan as part of the Polio Oversight Board (POB) mission, and highlighted the country’s remarkable achievement of reducing polio cases by 99.8% over the past three decades. She said the next six months will be a decisive period to build on this progress and move closer to a polio-free Pakistan.
“Pakistan has a genuine opportunity to interrupt poliovirus transmission,” Dr Balkhy said, appreciating the availability of effective vaccines, advanced surveillance systems, and the commitment of frontline health workers working across the country.
WHO chief expressed confidence that with sustained efforts, stronger vaccination coverage in high-risk areas, and continued cooperation among government institutions and partners, Pakistan can achieve a historic milestone in public health.
The South Asian nation reported three wild poliovirus cases so far in 2026, with transmission largely concentrated in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. WHO officials noted that the virus has been significantly restricted compared with previous years due to improved vaccination campaigns and monitoring systems.
During her visit, Dr Balkhy met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and senior officials to discuss ways to further strengthen Pakistan’s eradication strategy.
WHO delegation also recognized the efforts of more than 400,000 polio workers across Pakistan, including a strong contribution from women health workers who make up around 60% of the vaccination workforce. Balkhy praised Pakistan’s “whole-of-government” approach and emphasized that the dedication of health workers, communities, and international partners has brought the country closer than ever to eliminating the virus.
Polio Oversight Board mission, led by Chairman Mike McGovern, included senior representatives from UNICEF, Gavi, the Gates Foundation, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other global health partners, reflecting continued international backing for Pakistan’s polio programme.
WHO also highlighted the importance of Pakistan-Afghanistan cooperation, as both countries remain the last places in the world where wild poliovirus continues to circulate. Dr Balkhy said stronger coordination between the two nations would be vital to achieving a lasting interruption of transmission.
Pakistan’s polio programme is supported by one of the world’s largest disease surveillance networks, with more than 12,500 acute flaccid paralysis reporting sites and 127 environmental surveillance locations monitoring virus activity.
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