Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed health authorities to adopt a more effective strategy for polio hotspots in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, as he renewed the government’s commitment to eradicating the disease during talks with global health partners.
Meeting with Polio Oversight Board
Sharif issued the directive during a meeting with a seven-member delegation of the Polio Oversight Board, which included representatives of Rotary International, the Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi and other organizations supporting Pakistan’s polio eradication campaign.
“Polio eradication is an important national priority and all stakeholders should further accelerate their joint efforts,” Sharif said, according to a statement from his office. He directed authorities to pay “special attention to polio hotspots in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adopt an effective strategy to address them.”
Endemic Status and Transmission Zones
Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where wild poliovirus is endemic. While the virus has been detected in several parts of Pakistan, health authorities have identified southern KP as one of the country’s most persistent transmission zones due to militant violence and parental refusals, prompting the prime minister to call for a more targeted strategy in the region.
Pakistan has reported three polio cases so far this year — one each in Sujawal, Bannu and North Waziristan — after recording 31 cases in 2025. The decline from 31 cases in 2025 to three so far in 2026 indicates progress, but persistent hotspots remain a challenge.
International Support and Progress
Sharif thanked international partners for supporting Pakistan’s eradication efforts during the meeting. The delegation commended the government’s progress toward a polio-free Pakistan and praised ongoing eradication efforts, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The Polio Oversight Board delegation acknowledged the government’s commitment and the improvements in campaign quality, coverage, and surveillance. The meeting underscored the importance of continued collaboration to overcome obstacles such as vaccine hesitancy and security threats.
