44.6m children vaccinated nationwide as 2025's final anti-polio drive concludes

22.9m children received polio drops in Punjab, 10.6m in Sindh, 7.15m in K-P, and 2.58m in Balochistan

The final nationwide anti-polio campaign of 2025 has concluded successfully, with more than 44.6 million children vaccinated across Pakistan, marking a significant step in the country's ongoing efforts to eradicate the disease, Associated Press of Pakistan reported. 

According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), the campaign, conducted from December 15 to December 21, 2025, achieved its targets nationwide.

Official figures released by the National EOC show that approximately 22.9 million children were administered polio drops in Punjab, while around 10.6 million children were vaccinated in Sindh.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, more than 7.15 million children received the vaccine, whereas over 2.58 million children were covered in Balochistan. In the federal capital Islamabad, more than 450,000 children were vaccinated.

Meanwhile, around 274,000 children in Gilgit-Baltistan and over 714,000 children in Azad Jammu and Kashmir were administered polio drops.

This year's efforts come against the backdrop of notable progress in containing the virus with 30 wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases reported in Pakistan throughout 2025 - a reduction from 74 cases in 2024, according to data from the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative and global tracking reports.

The National EOC expressed gratitude to parents, civil administration, law enforcement agencies, and polio workers for the successful completion of the campaign. 

It said that polio workers and security personnel who performed duties during the campaign are the true heroes of the nation.

The authorities reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating polio from Pakistan through sustained and coordinated efforts.