Pakistan has reported a significant decline in polio cases, with infections falling from 74 in 2024 to 31 in 2025 and four so far in 2026, according to figures presented at a meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on the National Taskforce for Polio Eradication. Official sources also said positivity in environmental surveillance samples has fallen below 10%.
Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who chaired the meeting, formally launched the latest nationwide vaccination campaign and said efforts would continue until transmission of the virus was completely interrupted.
Three of the four cases recorded this year have been reported from Bannu Division in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security-related access difficulties have resulted in some children missing vaccination.
The meeting brought together Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq, provincial representatives and development partners, as well as officials from WHO, UNICEF, the Pakistan PolioPlus Committee and Rotary.
Calling polio eradication a national responsibility, Iqbal appealed directly to parents to ensure their 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.
He also urged religious scholars, community leaders and other influential figures to counter misinformation and strengthen public confidence in vaccination. The minister condemned attacks and intimidation targeting polio workers and called for greater protection of frontline vaccination teams.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal praised polio workers, provincial governments and field personnel for the reduction in cases, while stressing that the progress did not mean eradication efforts could be relaxed.
Representatives of the World Bank and UNICEF welcomed the declining case numbers, with UNICEF saying the vaccination campaign provides an opportunity to concentrate resources on the areas where children remain at greatest risk.
Concluding the meeting, Iqbal said the latest figures showed encouraging progress but emphasised that vaccination teams must be able to reach every eligible child.
He also assured frontline workers that the government and security agencies would continue to support and protect them as Pakistan works towards completely interrupting poliovirus transmission.