Karachi (HRNW) — A meeting of the Sindh Provincial Polio Task Force was held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to review ongoing efforts against poliovirus, environmental surveillance and preparations for the upcoming vaccination campaign across the province.
The Chief Minister told the meeting that the number of polio cases in Sindh declined from 23 in 2024 to nine in 2025, while only one case has been reported in the province so far in 2026. He said environmental surveillance was also showing evidence of reduced virus circulation, with the presence of the virus increasingly limited to a few high-risk areas.
The meeting was informed that Sindh’s only polio case this year was reported from Sujawal on February 10. Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho said that cases of wild poliovirus type 1 in Pakistan also declined from 74 in 2024 to 31 in 2025, while three cases have been reported so far in 2026.
EOC Coordinator Shehryar Gul briefed the meeting that the number of positive environmental surveillance sites had declined from 29 in March 2025 to five in August 2026. All 14 surveillance sites outside Karachi are currently negative, while virus presence continues to be detected at six of Karachi’s 15 surveillance sites.
The Chief Minister said the decline in polio cases was encouraging, but stressed that even a single case was unacceptable. He directed authorities to take effective measures regarding children who remain unvaccinated, parental refusal of vaccination and administrative shortcomings.
The meeting was informed that during 2026, special booster campaigns in Karachi had administered approximately 3 million oral polio vaccine doses and 2.89 million booster doses. In other divisions, around 2.7 million OPV doses and 2.58 million booster doses had been administered.
Officials said that following the July SNID campaign, a 10-day special follow-up campaign was conducted to reach children who had been missed. Of the total 146,149 missed children, more than 23,500 were vaccinated through targeted efforts.
Anti-Polio Campaign from September 21 to 27
The meeting was informed that a Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs) campaign will be conducted across Sindh from September 21 to 27, 2026, during which approximately 10 million children under five years of age will be administered polio drops.
The campaign will cover 23 complete districts and selected union councils in seven partially covered districts. More than 80,000 frontline workers will participate, while over 26,000 police personnel have been deployed for security.
The Chief Minister directed the relevant authorities to complete all arrangements for vaccine availability, logistics, human resources, security and monitoring before the campaign begins. He also appreciated the efforts of frontline workers, teachers, community mobilizers and health department personnel serving in remote areas.
Murad Ali Shah said environmental samples serve as warning indicators of virus circulation, making preventive action essential before the virus reaches vulnerable children. He also directed authorities to strengthen community engagement campaigns to build parental confidence and reduce vaccine refusal.
Human Rights and Public Interest
Protecting children from preventable diseases is closely linked to the fundamental right to health and the public interest. During polio campaigns, it is essential to ensure access to vaccination for every child, safe and effective immunization, accurate monitoring and reliable information for parents. Providing children in remote and underserved areas with equal access to essential health services is also an important component of an effective public-health system.
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Disclaimer
This report has been compiled on the basis of figures and information provided by the Sindh government and polio authorities during the meeting. Polio case numbers, environmental surveillance results and vaccination figures may be subject to change following subsequent official updates.
