Pakistan begins nationwide polio drive for 24 million children
Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal inaugurated a sub-national polio campaign on Friday. It targets about 24 million children in 97 high-risk districts from November 2 to 8.
- Campaign targets about 24 million children in 97 high-risk districts
- It runs from November 2 to 8, 2026
- Abbottabad aims to vaccinate 217,917 children with 1,685 teams
- Shikarpur plans its district drive for November 2 to 5
Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal on Friday inaugurated a nationwide sub-national polio vaccination campaign. According to Associated Press of Pakistan and The Nation, it targets approximately 24 million children in 97 high-risk districts and runs from November 2 to 8.
Daily Pakistan Urdu reported that the government has completed preparations for the drive and that the minister inaugurated it by giving polio drops to children. The campaign aims to vaccinate about 2.39 crore children under five years of age.
The same report gave provincial targets. Punjab aims to reach 92 lakh 78 thousand children in 13 districts, and Sindh 68 lakh 83 thousand children in 20 districts. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's target is 48 lakh 8 thousand children in 27 districts, and Balochistan's is 22 lakh 17 thousand children in 31 districts.
Islamabad's target is 4 lakh 47 thousand children. The campaign will also be held in 3 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan and 2 districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, according to the report.
Its main goal, the report said, is to ensure the polio vaccine reaches every child in the country and to stop the spread of the virus. It added that cooperation from parents, religious scholars, civil society and relevant institutions is important for success.
In Abbottabad, Deputy Commissioner Hameedullah Khan inaugurated the district campaign on Friday by giving polio drops to children, APP reported. The target is 217,917 children under five, and 1,685 polio teams have been formed across 54 union councils for door-to-door vaccination.
In Shikarpur, a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner's Office on Friday finalised arrangements for a district campaign scheduled from November 2 to 5, 2026, APP reported.
The Nation also reported that, according to the minister, Pakistan plans to end foreign funding for vaccine procurement by 2030.
Why it matters
Families with children under five in the 97 districts can have them vaccinated by teams going door to door from November 2. The drive covers all four provinces, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
