ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has successfully concluded its first nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign of 2026, with more than 44.3 million children administered polio drops across the country, the National Emergency Operations Center (EOC) said on Monday.
According to official data, Punjab recorded the highest coverage, with over 22.9 million children vaccinated, followed by Sindh, where more than 10.5 million children received polio drops.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, over 7.13 million children were vaccinated, while in Balochistan, more than 2.36 million children were immunised.
The campaign also covered smaller regions, with over 455,000 children vaccinated in Islamabad, around 261,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and more than 673,000 children in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Health authorities said the campaign was synchronized to be conducted in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, reflecting coordinated cross-border efforts to curb the transmission of the poliovirus.
Pakistan remains one of the last countries in the world where polio is endemic, and officials say sustained nationwide campaigns are critical to achieving complete eradication of the disease.
The National EOC thanked all relevant stakeholders for their cooperation and active participation in ensuring the campaign's smooth and successful conduct.
It paid special tribute to polio workers and security personnel, describing them as the nation’s real heroes for performing their duties under challenging conditions.
