On April 13, 2026, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah initiated a comprehensive anti-polio campaign aimed at vaccinating over 10.6 million children throughout the province. The campaign, which will run until April 19, underscores the government’s dedication to eradicating polio through sustained immunization efforts and heightened public awareness.
The campaign’s launch occurred at a government boys’ secondary school in DHA, Karachi, where Shah personally administered polio drops to children under five and visited classrooms to ensure widespread vaccination. In addition to polio drops, approximately 9.4 million children will receive Vitamin A supplements to bolster their immunity.
Highlighting the scale of this initiative, Shah revealed that more than 83,000 trained frontline workers would conduct door-to-door vaccinations to ensure no child is missed. To safeguard these teams, over 24,000 security personnel, including more than 2,400 female officers, have been deployed.
Shah emphasized the critical importance of this campaign, noting that Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic. He urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams and stressed that repeated immunization campaigns are vital for building children’s immunity and eliminating the virus permanently.
Providing an update, Shah noted a significant improvement in 2026, with environmental positivity rates dropping to 24 percent and only one case reported so far in Sujawal district. The affected child is under close monitoring, with no resultant disability.
Shah called for collective action from parents, educational institutions, media, religious scholars, and civil society to support the campaign. He particularly urged the media to counter misinformation and enhance public awareness, while community leaders were encouraged to advocate for vaccination.
He also paid tribute to frontline polio workers and security personnel for their dedication in reaching remote and challenging areas. Acknowledging contributions from Asifa Bhutto Zardari, Shah recalled how Benazir Bhutto set a precedent by publicly vaccinating her daughter.
In his media address, Shah linked effective governance and diplomacy to public welfare, expressing confidence that President Asif Ali Zardari would continue to guide Pakistan toward stability and progress. He praised Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for his active role in diplomacy and development initiatives.
Concluding, Shah stressed that eradicating polio is crucial for Pakistan’s future, calling it a shared national responsibility to ensure every child is vaccinated.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, April 14, 2026
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