Ahsan reaffirms resolve to eradicate virus from Pakistan
Pakistan has recorded a significant decline in polio cases, from 74 in 2024 and 31 in 2025 to four in 2026, while positivity in environmental surveillance samples has fallen below 10 per cent. The progress was reported at a meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on the National Taskforce for Polio Eradication, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal here on Friday, a news release said.
The minister formally launched the latest nationwide vaccination campaign and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to continue national efforts until poliovirus transmission was completely stopped. Of the four cases reported in 2026, three were recorded in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, underscoring the need for sustained attention to the remaining high-risk areas.
Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq, representatives of provincial governments and federating units, development partners, government departments and relevant organisations attended the meeting. Representatives of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Pakistan PolioPlus Committee and Rotary also participated.
In his opening remarks, Ahsan Iqbal said polio eradication was a national responsibility directly linked to the health, dignity and future of Pakistan’s children.
