PM Imran urges nation to make Pakistan polio-free

National anti-polio campaign begins today

Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the nation on Monday to step forward and take responsibility in making Pakistan polio-free.

“As the nationwide campaign against polio begins across Pakistan, I call on the nation to step forward, take responsibility and make Pakistan #poliofree,” he said in a tweet.

As the nationwide campaign against polio begins across Pakistan, I call on the nation to step forward, take responsibility and make Pakistan #polio-free. #PakFightsPolio

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 10, 2018

The message comes as the country begins its national anti-polio campaign. Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Babar Bin Atta said in a statement that 38 million children would be administered polio drops during the drive.



At least 270,000 health guards are taking part in the four-day campaign who would visit houses to administer polio drops to children under the age of five years.

A 27,000-strong team will be administering polio drops to children under the age of five across the country during the four-day drive.

Despite a 97 per cent decrease in polio cases as compared to 2014, the virus was found in sewerage water in Sukkur, Karachi, Peshawar, Mardan, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

At least eight polio cases were registered in 2017 – three from Dukki district of Balochistan, one each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda, Khyber and Bajaur districts and one from Gadap, Sindh.