Health volunteers have vaccinated a total of 44.3 million children against the poliovirus disease in the last six days, health authorities said as the nationwide drive against the disease concluded on Sunday (yesterday), it was reported on Monday.
According to Pakistan’s National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) the seven-day anti-polio campaign was launched on Dec 15 and concluded on December 21, 2025, targeting children under the age of five.
Giving a breakdown of the numbers, the NEOC said approximately 22.9 million children have received polio drops in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, over 10.4 million in Sindh, 7.1 million in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, and around 2.54 million children in Balochistan.
In Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, over 450,000 children received polio drops, while in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, over 274,000 children have been vaccinated, the EOC said.
In Azad Jammu & Kashmir, over 714,000 children received polio drops.
Pakistan has logged 30 polio cases so far in 2025, underscoring the fragility of progress against the virus.
Health officials say insecurity remains a major obstacle. Polio workers and their security escorts have repeatedly been targeted in militant attacks, particularly in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, complicating efforts to reach every child.
Natural disasters, including flooding, have further disrupted vaccination campaigns in recent years.
“Parents and communities are urged to welcome polio workers at their doorsteps,” the NEOC said.
NEOC said that polio workers are the real heroes of Pakistan. NEOC urged the people to call 1166 for contact with the polio team or send a message on WhatsApp no. 03467776546.
