ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP): Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on Thursday inaugurated the final polio campaign of 2025, which aims to immunize more than 45 million children across Pakistan against the debilitating disease.
He said the number of cases in the country had reduced from 74 to 30 compared to last year, adding that more than 400,000 frontline polio workers would take part in the campaign. The drive will be carried out from December 15 to 21, he added.
Kamal said that Pakistan is one of the last two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. So far, the country has recorded 30 cases this year, with the highest number—19 cases—reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He noted that around 200,000 children in South KP had not been immunised due to the prevailing “law and order situation.” He further highlighted that the virus is still present in multiple major cities, including Peshawar, Karachi, and Lahore.
The minister urged parents to cooperate with polio workers participating in the campaign and called upon religious scholars and elected representatives to actively support the drive.
Kamal reaffirmed the government’s determination to eliminate the virus from the country once and for all.
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