Polio problem

Pakistan’s ongoing struggle against polio has once again come into sharp focus with the detection of two new cases, bringing the total for 2025 to five. The cases, reported from Sindh and Punjab, are a sobering reminder of the severity of the challenge that remains unaddressed. Equally concerning is the revelation that environmental samples collected from 11 out of 15 districts tested -- including Islamabad -- showed traces of the virus. The persistence of polio in Pakistan is a national embarrassment but it is also a humanitarian crisis, made worse by violent opposition to immunisation efforts. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic. While other nations have successfully eradicated the virus, Pakistan continues to grapple with significant obstacles, including vaccine hesitancy, inadequate funding and -- most alarmingly -- violence against polio workers. Healthcare workers have repeatedly come under attack in remote areas, making an already difficult job even more dangerous. The grim reality is that these workers have been killed, kidnapped and even locked in homes by hostile residents refusing to let their children be vaccinated. This is just one example of the glaring weaknesses in the state's ability to protect those on the frontlines of public health.

It is against this troubling backdrop that Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) with a $500 million pledge, aimed at vaccinating 370 million children annually. This international support is a lifeline for Pakistan’s faltering polio campaign, yet it should also serve as a warning: the world will not continue to bankroll Pakistan’s failures indefinitely. There will come a time when Pakistan will have to tackle its health challenges on its own. We must act now to ensure that we eliminate polio before that day arrives. The first and most urgent step is to crack down on those responsible for violence against polio workers. Years of appeasement have not worked, and the state must now adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards those sabotaging eradication efforts. Any group or individual threatening or attacking healthcare workers must be dealt with swiftly and decisively. The message must be clear: Pakistan will not allow its future generations to be crippled by a disease that the world has long defeated.

At the same time, vaccine hesitancy must be tackled through robust awareness campaigns. Many Pakistanis refuse vaccinations due to mistrust in the government and misinformation about the vaccine itself. Health authorities must work tirelessly to rebuild public trust, engaging with local leaders, religious scholars and community influencers to counter myths and misinformation. A nationwide push for education and trust-building can ensure greater participation in immunisation drives. Pakistan has, in the past, demonstrated its ability to push polio to the brink of eradication. The final push now requires a concerted effort that involves security measures for polio workers, effective public messaging -- and a strong political commitment. The country has the resources, the experience and the international support it needs. What it cannot afford is further complacency.