In December 2025, Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) conducted environmental surveillance through its nationwide network, testing 127 sewage samples from 87 districts to test for the presence of poliovirus. Laboratory testing conducted at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, confirmed that 87 samples were negative, while 40 samples tested positive for poliovirus.

Results by province are outlined below:

  • Balochistan: 21 negative, 2 positive
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 26 negative, 8 positive
  • Punjab: 25 negative, 6 positive
  • Sindh: 6 negative, 23 positive
  • Islamabad: 4 negative, 1 positive
  • Azad Jammu & Kashmir: 3 negative
  • Gilgit-Baltistan: 2 negative

While poliovirus detections persist in some high-risk areas, the overall trend in environmental samples and poliovirus cases shows a decline, reflecting the effectiveness of high-quality vaccination campaigns and consistent community engagement. Compared to the previous year, Pakistan recorded a significant reduction in polio cases in 2025, dropping from 74 cases in 2024 to 31 cases in 2025. In addition, no detection of polio cases in Balochistan for over a year, and in Punjab for eleven months, demonstrates the impact of sustained immunization and surveillance efforts.

In 2025, the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication led by the Government of Pakistan, successfully conducted six high-quality vaccination campaigns, including five nationwide and one subnational drive, reaching over 45 million children.

These high-quality vaccination campaigns are not only protecting children from lifelong disability but are also helping to limit poliovirus transmission to fewer high-risk areas, reflecting strengthened population immunity across the country.

To sustain and build on these gains, the PEI is intensifying efforts to ensure full vaccination coverage, particularly in high-risk and vulnerable areas. The National Task Force has endorsed the 2025-26 roadmap, which focuses on repeated nationwide vaccination campaigns and strengthening routine immunization services to interrupt poliovirus transmission.

As part of this roadmap, the first nationwide polio campaign of 2026 will be conducted from February 2-8 in all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad, aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children under the age of five.

To further strengthen immunity, the Government of Pakistan continues to provide free routine immunization services for all children up to two years of age. Together, routine immunization and repeated polio vaccination provide the strongest and most reliable protection against polio and other preventable diseases. Parents and caregivers are strongly urged to ensure that children under five receive polio drops during every vaccination campaign to protect them from lifelong disability.

Polio eradication is a shared national responsibility that requires the active participation of every segment of society. Communities, parents and caregivers, educators, religious leaders, and the media play a critical role in promoting accurate information, countering misinformation, and fostering collective action. Through collaborative efforts, a polio-free Pakistan can be achieved for every child.

For further information, please contact the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 or connect via WhatsApp through the Polio Helpline at 0346-7776546

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Note for the Editor:

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of five years. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this disease. Each time a child under the age of five is vaccinated, their protection against the virus is increased. Repeated immunisations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost all countries in the world to become polio-free, besides the two endemic countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

For further information, please contact: Mr. Syed Farhan Shah, Public Relations Officer, NEOC, +923165011808, syed.farhanshah1990@gmail.com