ISLAMABAD IRFAN UL HAQ
Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, on Monday praised the Punjab government for its exemplary efforts in the fight against polio, stating that the province remains at the forefront of polio eradication initiatives in the country.
She expressed these views while inaugurating an anti-polio vaccination campaign, during which children were administered polio drops to formally launch the drive. The ceremony was attended by senior health officials and representatives of the provincial government.
Provincial Minister for Health Khawaja Imran said that the polio campaign in Lahore will continue for seven days, adding that sustained efforts by the Punjab government have resulted in negative environmental samples in several areas.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister’s Focal Person for Polio, Uzma Kardar, said that only one polio case has been reported in Punjab during 2025. She noted that the presence of the virus in environmental samples has dropped to 26 percent, while no major cases of polio-related disability have been reported due to strong vaccination coverage.
Briefing the participants, Head of the Polio Eradication Programme Adeel Tasawar said that the campaign will run for seven days in Lahore and four days in other districts. He informed that more than 200,000 polio workers across Punjab will vaccinate over 17 million children during the drive.
Despite significant progress, he warned that the poliovirus still poses a threat, largely due to continuous population movement. He added that more than 78 percent of positive samples are linked to internal transmission within the province. To address this, transit vaccination points have been established to immunize high-risk mobile populations, including those involved in inter-provincial travel.
He further said that the Punjab government is ensuring the safety and security of frontline polio workers. Emphasizing the importance of repeated vaccination, he urged parents to welcome polio teams and fully cooperate to protect every child from the crippling disease.