Pakistan has officially launched its first National Polio Eradication Campaign of 2026, marking a renewed nationwide effort to eliminate the virus.

The campaign was inaugurated in Islamabad with strong backing from both local leadership and international partners.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Rawal Town Dispensary in Islamabad, where Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, formally launched the campaign. She, along with the Canadian high commissioner, administered polio drops to children, symbolizing the start of the nationwide drive.

Addressing the ceremony, Ayesha Raza Farooq said Pakistan is fighting the “last battle” against polio and emphasized that just two drops of vaccine can save a child’s life. She stressed that boosting the morale of frontline polio teams is essential to achieving complete eradication.

Call for collective responsibility

Ayesha Raza Farooq highlighted the importance of collective national responsibility, urging parents, teachers, religious scholars and citizens from all walks of life to actively contribute to the campaign’s success. She also acknowledged and thanked the Government of Canada for its continued cooperation in Pakistan’s anti-polio efforts.

“This campaign cannot succeed without public trust and participation,” she noted, adding that community support remains the backbone of the polio eradication drive.

Canada reaffirms support

Canadian High Commissioner Tariq Ali Khan also addressed the ceremony, reiterating Canada’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s fight against polio. He expressed hope that Pakistan would soon become polio-free like the rest of the world.

He emphasized the need to raise awareness among parents, focus efforts on high-risk areas, and ensure polio teams are fully supported on the ground. The Canadian government, he said, will continue to cooperate closely in the ongoing campaign.

Nationwide vaccination targets

According to official figures, more than 45 million children will be vaccinated during the 2026 national polio campaign. Provincial and regional targets have been set as follows:

Over 23 million children in Punjab
More than 16 million children in Sindh
Around 7.2 million children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
More than 2.6 million children in Balochistan
A target of over 460,000 children in Islamabad
More than 228,000 children in Gilgit-Baltistan
Over 760,000 children in Azad Kashmir

Officials confirmed that vaccination teams will prioritize high-risk and vulnerable areas to ensure maximum coverage and effectiveness.

Renewed push to end polio

The first national polio campaign of 2026 represents a critical step in Pakistan’s long-standing fight against the virus. With strong government leadership, international support, and nationwide mobilization, authorities remain hopeful that the country is closer than ever to ending polio for good.