Pakistan Polio Eradication Campaign outcomes in 2025 indicate significant progress in the country’s decades-long fight against the virus, with reported cases falling by more than half compared to the previous year. The latest data underscores improved vaccination coverage and operational efficiency, even as frontline health workers continue to face severe security threats.
According to the government-run Polio Eradication Initiative, Pakistan reported 30 confirmed polio cases in 2025, a steep decline from 74 cases recorded in 2024. The announcement followed the country’s final nationwide vaccination drive of the year, which targeted approximately 45 million children across all provinces.
Pakistan Polio Eradication Campaign: Key 2025 Performance Indicators
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Campaign has demonstrated measurable gains across multiple performance metrics in 2025. In simple explanatory terms, national surveillance data shows that total polio cases dropped by nearly 60 percent year-on-year, while vaccination reach exceeded 98 percent of the intended child population during the most recent immunization round.
Health officials attribute this improvement to consistent nationwide campaigns, improved planning, and enhanced coordination between federal and provincial health authorities. Notably, no new polio infections have been reported since September 2025, a milestone that reflects the effectiveness of sustained immunization efforts throughout the year.
Operational Gains and Vaccination Coverage Improvements
Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of Pakistan’s National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, confirmed that vaccination drives carried out in 2025 were instrumental in suppressing virus transmission. He noted that the country is preparing to launch its first anti-polio campaign of 2026 in the first week of February, signaling continuity in the eradication strategy.
In explanatory terms, vaccination performance data reveals that nearly all targeted districts achieved coverage rates above international benchmarks. These results highlight stronger logistical execution, better community engagement, and improved monitoring mechanisms across most regions of the country.
Security Challenges Remain a Major Risk to Pakistan Polio Eradication Campaign
Despite progress, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Campaign continues to face serious security challenges, particularly in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Health workers in these regions encounter resistance fueled by misinformation and militant propaganda, which falsely portrays vaccination efforts as foreign-backed conspiracies.
Since the 1990s, officials estimate that more than 200 polio workers and police personnel assigned to protect them have been killed in targeted attacks. As a result, authorities now deploy thousands of police officers during each vaccination drive, following intelligence warnings of potential threats.
From a risk-management perspective, these security constraints remain one of the biggest structural vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s eradication effort, increasing operational costs and limiting access to hard-to-reach populations.
Pakistan and Global Polio Eradication Landscape
Globally, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio has not been eradicated, according to the World Health Organization. Pakistan’s latest figures, however, suggest growing momentum toward elimination, provided immunization efforts are sustained without interruption.
Experts caution that even limited virus transmission in isolated areas could reverse gains if vaccination campaigns slow down or security conditions deteriorate. Continuous funding, community engagement, and protection for frontline workers remain critical success factors.
Outlook for Pakistan Polio Eradication Campaign in 2026
Looking ahead, health authorities remain cautiously optimistic. The sharp reduction in cases during 2025 positions Pakistan closer than ever to interrupting transmission entirely. However, officials emphasize that eradication is only achieved when zero cases are sustained over time.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Campaign enters 2026 with improved infrastructure, higher vaccination compliance, and renewed international confidence, yet the final mile will require unwavering political commitment and public trust.