PM Shehbaz vows to drive poliovirus out of Pakistan’s borders

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated his government’s commitment to eradicating polio, declaring, “The fight against the poliovirus is under way with full force.” 

Pakistan on Sunday announced to run the last anti-polio campaign of 2024 from Monday in all 143 districts of the country, as poliovirus cases have seen an uptick in the outgoing year.

Pakistan alongside Afghanistan is one of the last two countries in the world where polio remains prevalent, with the crippling disease mostly affecting children under five-year of age.

Speaking at a ceremony dedicated to the anti-polio campaign in Islamabad, the prime minister expressed gratitude to international partners for their cooperation in the effort, with special acknowledgment of Saudi Arabia. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his support,” he said. 

PM Sharif emphasised collaboration with provincial governments to eliminate polio, calling it a shared mission.

He said that the reported 60 polio cases across Pakistan was alarming and it was a big challenge for the government. “Our goal is to drive polio out of Pakistan’s borders once and for all,” he said. 

The prime minister urged parents to actively participate in the campaign and ensure that their children receive polio drops, safeguarding their future against the crippling disease. 

He also commended the dedication of polio workers across all provinces, appreciating their courage and perseverance.

PM Sharif acknowledged the contributions of law enforcement agencies, who, he said, have provided essential support in areas facing security challenges. 

The prime minister reaffirmed his government’s resolve to make Pakistan polio-free, stressing that it remains a national priority.

Earlier, the Grand Health Alliance in Quetta announced a boycott of anti-polio campaign across Balochistan. Alliance Chairman Bihar Shah told the media that the decision to boycott the campaign has been taken according to a scheduled protest call.

He said that doctors and other paramedical staff will not participate in the anti-polio campaign as part of the boycott.

In November this year, the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Regional Anti-Polio Laboratory discovered polio virus in the environmental samples collected from 20 districts across the country.

The samples were collected from across the country. Samples from the capital city Islamabad, neighboring Rawalpindi, as well as several districts in Punjab showed presence of polio virus. Likewise, positive samples were discovered from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan.

Sewage samples from Peshwar, Dera Ismail Khan, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Qambar, Pashin, Lakki Marwat, Mirpurkhas, Karachi, Quetta, Noshki, and Zhob showed presence of polio.