The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has confirmed two new polio cases from South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one from District North Waziristan and the other from District Lakki Marwat. The cases involve a 19-month-old girl from Union Council Mir Ali 2, District North Waziristan, and an 11-month-old girl from Union Council Suleman Khel, District Lakki Marwat. These new detections bring the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 to 26: 18 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, six from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Moreover, as part of Pakistan’s comprehensive polio surveillance system, 126 environmental (sewage) samples collected from 87 districts were tested in August 2025 at the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad. Of the 126 environmental samples tested, 75 were found negative with no poliovirus detected, while 51 samples tested positive. Province wise details of the environmental samples are given below:

  • Balochistan: 21 negative, 1 positive, 1 under process
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 24 negative, 10 positive
  • Punjab: 17 negative, 14 positive
  • Sindh: 5 negative, 24 positive
  • AJK: 3 negative
  • Gilgit-Baltistan: 1 negative, 1 positive
  • Islamabad: 4 negative, 1 positive

Balochistan reported a marked reduction, with only one positive environmental site in July and August, down from 19 in January. 21 of the 22 sites in the province were negative in August. All 6 environmental samples from the Quetta Block tested negative, while one sample is currently under processing in the lab. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, positive environmental sites dropped from 13 in April to 10 in August. 24 sites in the province tested negative. 7 of the 10 positive sites in the province in August are from South KP. In Peshawar, 5 out of 6 sites were negative. In Punjab, 17 environmental sites were negative. In Sindh, 5 environmental sites were negative. 12 of the 24 positive sites in the province in August are from Karachi. In Islamabad, the number of positive environmental sites has decreased from 3 in July to 1 in August. 4 of the 5 sites in the district were negative in August. In AJK, all 3 ES sites were negative.

Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is repeated doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, together with the timely completion of all routine immunizations. 

Despite significant progress, the continued detection of cases, particularly in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, remains a concern. Children living in hard-to-reach areas and those in communities with low vaccine acceptance remain most at risk. The National and Provincial Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) are implementing all possible measures to ensure high-quality vaccination campaigns. A special action plan for South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was developed and being implemented under the supervision of Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, focusing on strengthening monitoring, addressing access challenges, and promoting community-led initiatives to reach unreached children in high-risk areas. 

A Sub-National Polio vaccination Campaign in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has started today (September 15 – 18). Ahead of this campaign, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Shahab Ali Shah, chaired a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Polio to review preparations for the campaign in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He directed urgent, intensified efforts to ensure no child is left unvaccinated. 

Earlier this month, the National Emergency Operations Centre conducted a sub-national polio vaccination campaign from 1–7 September 2025 in 81 districts across the country, successfully reaching more than 19.8 million children under five. These campaigns are designed to rapidly strengthen immunity and increase protection as part of ongoing efforts to eradicate polio from Pakistan. Parents and caregivers are strongly urged to ensure their children are vaccinated in every campaign, as vaccination remains the only effective protection against lifelong disability. 

Polio eradication is a collective responsibility. While dedicated frontline workers deliver vaccines, parents and caregivers must ensure their children receive all recommended doses, including routine immunizations. Communities, teachers, religious leaders, and especially the media play a vital role by supporting vaccination efforts, countering misinformation, and encouraging others to vaccinate so that every child is protected. 


For more information, contact the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 or the Polio Helpline via WhatsApp at 0346-7776546.