Pakistan has recorded progress in its fight against polio. The rate of positive polio virus detection in environmental samples fell to 13.1 per cent during the first six months of 2026. This highlights that nationwide vaccination and surveillance efforts are beginning to produce positive results.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) report:
- 127 environmental samples were collected across Pakistan in June 2026, out of which 117 samples tested negative, while 10 samples tested positive for the poliovirus
- Positive environmental samples fell from 369 to 100 compared to the same six-month period last year
- Punjab: 31 out of 31 environmental samples tested negative
- Sindh: 28 out of 29 samples tested negative
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 30 out of 34 samples tested negative
- Balochistan: 18 out of 23 samples tested negative
- Pakistan has recorded only three confirmed polio cases so far in 2026
Moreover, Health authorities commit to ensuring that every child in Pakistan receives the life-saving polio vaccine. Authorities also appeal to people to actively support the national anti-polio campaign to help eliminate the virus. Polio workers were praised as national heroes whose dedication and sacrifices deserve respect and full public support.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completely eradicating polio from Pakistan during a meeting in Islamabad with Dr. Chris Elias, President of the Global Development Gates Foundation. The prime minister said the government is implementing a comprehensive national strategy backed by an effective team to eliminate the disease.
Shehbaz Sharif expressed appreciation for the continued support provided by Bill Gates and Saudi Arabia in Pakistan’s anti-polio efforts. He also stated that the federal government is working closely with provincial administrations to ensure polio teams have safe access to every area of the country under coordinated and effective strategies.
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