Pakistan has reported a sharp decline in polio cases this year, with only four cases recorded so far in 2026, compared with 31 cases in 2025 and 74 in 2024. Authorities have also reported a drop in the positivity rate of environmental surveillance samples to below 10 per cent.
The latest progress was reviewed during 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 Prof. Ahsan Iqbal.
During the meeting, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal formally launched the latest nationwide polio vaccination campaign and reiterated the government’s commitment to continuing eradication efforts until the transmission of poliovirus is completely halted.
Of the four polio cases detected in Pakistan during 2026, three were reported in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The concentration of cases in the region highlights the need for continued vaccination and surveillance efforts in high-risk areas.
The meeting was attended by 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 other relevant organisations.
Representatives from the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the Pakistan PolioPlus Committee and Rotary also participated in the meeting.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal described polio eradication as a national responsibility, linking the campaign to the health, dignity and future of children across the country.
He noted that polio had previously been reported in 120 countries, of which 118 have since eliminated the virus. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where poliovirus continues to be endemic.
The Planning Minister stressed that polio should not be viewed solely as a public health issue, saying the disease can affect children’s lifelong potential and place an additional burden on their families. He warned that even a single case indicates that unvaccinated children remain vulnerable while the virus continues to circulate.
Urging all stakeholders to work together towards a polio-free Pakistan, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal particularly called on parents and mothers to ensure that eligible children receive the vaccine. “When a polio worker knocks on your door, do not ignore that knock. It is the knock of your child’s future,” he said. “Those two drops can protect your child’s future.”