Mustafa Kamal Claims Pakistan Will Be Polio-Free in Eight Months

Islamabad: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has claimed that Pakistan will become a polio-free country within eight months, announcing that a joint polio vaccination campaign will be launched simultaneously in both Pakistan and Afghanistan starting on April 21, 2025.
During a press conference with Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s focal person for polio eradication, Mustafa Kamal stated that the country would be free of polio by December 2025. He confirmed that six new polio cases had been reported so far this year, but emphasized that Pakistan was making significant progress towards eradication.
“Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio is still a threat. Many people do not vaccinate their children against polio,” Kamal said. He further explained that, despite the religiously conservative government in Afghanistan, a robust vaccination campaign is being carried out across the country. This time, both nations will launch their vaccination drives on the same day.
The Minister stressed that there is no religious connection to the polio vaccine, citing that pilgrims going to Hajj or Umrah are vaccinated with polio drops in a systematic manner. He further clarified that Pakistan does not purchase polio vaccines directly, but rather receives them from UNICEF, which handles the procurement and distribution of the vaccine both for the public and private sectors in Pakistan.
Kamal emphasized that there is no cure for polio, and the only method of prevention is vaccination. He also pointed out that the polio virus is present in the country’s sewage systems, indicating its widespread circulation.
“Polio is one issue that has united the entire nation. All provincial health ministers are on the same page, working together as one,” he added. “This unity gives me hope that we will successfully overcome polio.”
The Minister praised the dedication of over 425,000 health workers, who are risking their lives in this effort. He acknowledged that these workers are not receiving sufficient compensation for their roles, given the security risks they face, and called for special recognition of their contributions.
Kamal concluded by urging parents to cooperate with the vaccination drive, warning that Afghanistan could soon be rid of polio while Pakistan remains the last country to eradicate the disease.