Sindh launches anti-polio drive targeting over 10.6 million children

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday inaugurated a province-wide anti-polio campaign, saying the government remained committed to eliminating the disease through continued immunisation, awareness efforts and coordinated action.

The launch ceremony was held at a government boys secondary school in DHA, where the chief minister administered polio drops to children and also visited classrooms to vaccinate children under the age of five.

The seven-day campaign will run from April 13 to 19 and is aimed at vaccinating more than 10.6 million children across Sindh. Alongside the anti-polio drive, around 9.4 million children will also be given Vitamin A supplements to help strengthen immunity.

According to the chief minister, more than 83,000 trained frontline workers have been deployed for door-to-door vaccination so that no child is left out. He said over 24,000 security personnel, including more than 2,400 female officers, had also been assigned to protect vaccination teams.

Shah called on parents to fully cooperate with polio teams, saying Pakistan and Afghanistan are still the only two countries where the virus remains endemic, making sustained efforts essential.

Polio situation and campaign appeal

Providing an update on the disease situation, Shah said Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases in 2024 and 31 last year, while Sindh reported nine cases in 2025. He said the situation had improved significantly in 2026, with environmental positivity rates falling to 24 per cent and only one case reported so far, from Sujawal district.

He said the child affected in Sujawal was being closely monitored and had not developed any disability. The chief minister said repeated vaccination campaigns were necessary to build immunity in children and eliminate the virus permanently.

Shah also said the polio vaccine is safe, effective and certified by the World Health Organization. He appealed to parents, educational institutions, the media, religious scholars and civil society to support the campaign.

He particularly asked the media to help counter misinformation and raise awareness, while urging community leaders to encourage vaccination in their areas.

The chief minister paid tribute to frontline polio workers and security personnel for working in remote and difficult areas. He also acknowledged the role of Asifa Bhutto Zardari and recalled that Benazir Bhutto had publicly vaccinated her daughter in the past.

Remarks after the ceremony

Speaking to the media after the event, Shah said effective governance and diplomacy were linked to public welfare and expressed confidence that President Asif Ali Zardari would continue guiding the country towards stability and progress.

He said the country’s leadership, including the president, prime minister and military, was working in coordination for national development.

Referring to recent diplomatic contacts, Shah said both Iran and the United States had shown confidence in Pakistan’s leadership, which he described as a sign of successful diplomacy.

He also praised Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for his active role in diplomacy and public engagement despite not holding any official government office. Shah added that Bilawal was closely monitoring development work, including projects in Lyari.

On civil rights, the chief minister said blocking a citizen’s national identity card amounted to a violation of fundamental rights and should not be allowed.