Karachi emerges as top polio exporter

ISLAMABAD: Health officials warned on Thursday that Karachi has surpassed southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as Pakistan’s most potent source of exported poliovirus, urging parents to protect their children from lifelong paralysis by participating in the imminent vaccination drive.

“Karachi is the most potent exporter of poliovirus in the country and a trouble spot, even more than southern KP, from where 16 out of 18 cases were reported,” said the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, while addressing a joint press briefing with the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Coordinator, Muhammad Anwar ul Haq.

The next nationwide polio vaccination campaign will begin on October 13, targeting over 45.4 million children under five across Pakistan. Vitamin A supplements will also be administered to boost immunity. In southern KP, where access issues persist, the campaign will continue from October 20 to 23. More than 403,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 women vaccinators, will take part.

Ayesha Raza Farooq reaffirmed the government’s “unwavering commitment” to eradicate the disease, noting that the number of missed children had dropped from 1.1 million in October 2024 to around 830,000 in May 2025, showing improved planning, accountability, and local engagement. “The last mile to end polio demands our strongest commitment yet,” she said, appealing to parents. “When vaccinators come to your doorstep, please open your doors. Two drops can protect your child from a lifetime of disability.”

According to official data, Pakistan has reported 29 polio cases so far in 2025, along with 501 positive environmental samples, indicating that the virus continues to circulate widely. Of the 22 cases reported over the past six months, 15 were from southern KP, where access challenges and vaccine refusals persist.

While Punjab and Balochistan have not reported any cases this year, the virus continues to be detected in Lahore’s environmental samples, and the Quetta block remains an area of concern due to low essential immunisation coverage.

In Sindh, three new cases have emerged from Hyderabad, Badin, and Thatta, while Karachi remains the most critical hotspot due to persistent virus circulation and community resistance. Despite progress in improving zero-dose coverage outside Karachi, large pockets of unvaccinated children and refusals continue to hamper eradication efforts.

In contrast, northern KP, including Peshawar and Khyber, has shown encouraging progress with improved campaign quality and community participation. However, southern KP remains a global concern, with over 271,000 children left unvaccinated in September because of security threats and boycotts.

NEOC Coordinator Anwar ul Haq stated that maintaining campaign quality and coordination was key to closing the remaining immunity gaps. “We are closer than ever, but this virus exploits even the smallest weakness,” he said. “Every citizen must play their role so that no child is left behind.”

Farooq paid tribute to frontline vaccinators and security personnel, calling them the backbone of Pakistan’s polio eradication effort. She also stressed the need for stronger integration between the Polio Eradication Initiative and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation to ensure every child receives all essential vaccines.

Both officials expressed hope that if Pakistan sustains its momentum and community cooperation improves, the country could still stop transmission in the coming months. “The virus is losing ground, but the last mile is the hardest,” Farooq said. “We must not rest until every child in Pakistan is protected from polio and this disease is gone for good.”