Pakistani health workers have launched a campaign to vaccinate 30 million children against polio, following the recent detection of the contagious virus in the federal capital.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif kicked off the nationwide polio vaccination drive by administering vaccines to children in Islamabad. Simultaneously, several districts in Sindh have started week-long efforts to vaccinate around 9.4 million children across 30 districts.

Read more: Islamabad Reports First Polio Case in 16 Years, Marking Major Setback

This year, Pakistan, with a population of 242 million, has reported 17 cases of polio, three of which are from Sindh. The presence of positive environmental samples in the province further confirms the virus’s continued circulation.

Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is still endemic. Despite global eradication efforts, challenges such as vaccine hesitancy and misinformation persist.

Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating polio, expressing optimism that through collective efforts, the disease can be fully eradicated. He stressed the need for a united approach to tackle the polio issue.

During the campaign’s launch, the Prime Minister praised the efforts of federal and provincial officials, healthcare workers, and security forces. He expressed confidence that the joint efforts of provincial leaders and health authorities will help achieve polio eradication.

Sharif also assured that expert teams are overseeing the campaign and voiced hope that the government’s coordinated approach will lead to a polio-free future, ensuring the health of future generations.