In January 2026, Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) conducted environmental surveillance through its nationwide network, testing 127 sewage samples from 87 districts for the presence of poliovirus. Laboratory testing at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, confirmed that 103 samples were negative, while 24 samples tested positive for poliovirus.
Results by province are outlined below:
- Balochistan: 21 negative, 2 positive
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 30 negative, 4 positive
- Punjab: 31 negative, 0 positive
- Sindh: 11 negative, 18 positive
- Islamabad: 5 negative, 0 positive
- Azad Jammu & Kashmir: 3 negative, 0 positive
- Gilgit-Baltistan: 2 negative, 0 positive
Although poliovirus continues to be detected in certain high-risk areas, the January 2026 environmental surveillance results reflect an encouraging overall declining trend. The majority of sewage samples collected across Pakistan tested negative, underscoring the sustained impact of targeted immunization campaigns and strong disease surveillance systems.
Sindh reported the highest number of positive sewage samples, highlighting the need for intensified vaccination efforts and community outreach in specific districts. In contrast, Punjab, Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan recorded exclusively negative samples, demonstrating the effectiveness of continued eradication strategies and community engagement in these areas.
Pakistan has made significant progress in reducing polio cases, with cases declining from 74 in 2024 to 31 in 2025, and no cases reported in 2026 to date. Furthermore, the absence of polio cases in Balochistan and Punjab for over a year reflects the impact of sustained immunization activities and rigorous surveillance nationwide.
In 2025, the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, led by the Government of Pakistan, successfully conducted five nationwide vaccination campaigns, followed by the first campaign of 2026. Each round reached around 45 million children, achieving consistently high household coverage of 98%.
These high-quality vaccination campaigns are not only protecting children from lifelong disability but are also reducing poliovirus transmission to a limited number of high-risk areas. This progress reflects strengthened population immunity and the sustained impact of coordinated eradication efforts across the country.
To sustain and expand recent progress, the Polio Eradication Initiative is accelerating targeted actions to achieve comprehensive vaccine coverage, particularly in high-risk and underserved communities. The National Task Force has endorsed the 2025-26 roadmap, prioritizing successive nationwide campaigns alongside strengthened routine immunization systems to interrupt poliovirus transmission.
These gains are significant and reflect the commitment, coordination, and leadership demonstrated at national and provincial levels. Nevertheless, they should not be equated with final success, as the virus persists in specific areas and immunity gaps remain a challenge.
As part of this roadmap, the second nationwide polio campaign of 2026 will be conducted from April 13 across all four provinces, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad, aiming to vaccinate more than 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 offer the strongest and most reliable protection against polio and other preventable diseases.
Polio eradication is a shared national responsibility requiring the active participation of every segment of society. Communities, parents and caregivers, educators, religious leaders, and the media all play a critical role in promoting accurate information, countering misinformation, and fostering collective action. Through sustained collaboration, a polio-free Pakistan can be achieved for every child.
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.
For further information, please contact the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 or connect via WhatsApp through the Polio Helpline at 0346-7776546.