Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday formally inaugurated the province-wide anti-polio campaign, reaffirming the government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating the crippling disease through sustained immunisation efforts, public awareness and coordinated action at all levels.
Launching the campaign at Government Boys Secondary School, Khayaban-e-Shujaat in Defence, the CM personally administered polio drops to children and later visited classrooms, where he also administered polio drops to children under five.
The ceremony was attended by the provincial education minister, the Karachi mayor, the provincial police chief, the city commissioner, the school education secretary, the city police chief, the health secretary and the Emergency Operations Centre incharge among others.
The seven-day campaign, running from April 13 to April 19, aims to vaccinate over 10.6 million children under the age of five across the province. Moreover, vitamin A supplements will be administered to approximately 9.4 million children to boost immunity and improve overall health outcomes.
Highlighting the scale of the initiative, the CM said that more than 83,000 trained frontline workers would conduct door-to-door visits to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated. To ensure the safety of the polio teams, over 24,000 security personnel have been deployed, including more than 2,400 female police officers assigned to support and protect the polio workers.
“These comprehensive measures reflect our strong commitment to safeguarding both our children and the frontline workforce,” said Shah, urging parents to cooperate fully with the vaccination teams and ensure access to children under five years of age.
The CM noted that Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio persists, stressing the urgency of sustained national efforts to eliminate the virus. He shared that Pakistan reported 74 polio cases in 2024 and 31 cases last year, while Sindh recorded nine cases in 2025, with nearly 80 per cent of the environmental samples collected testing positive for the virus.
Encouragingly, he added, significant progress has been made this year, with environmental positivity rates declining to 24 per cent, and only one case reported in District Sujawal. “We are closely monitoring the affected child, and thankfully, no disability has occurred,” he said, adding that the government remains committed to ensuring full recovery and preventing further transmission.
Shah emphasised that repeated vaccination campaigns are essential to building immunity among children and eliminating the virus permanently. He reiterated that the polio vaccine is safe, effective and certified by the World Health Organisation.
Appealing to various segments of society, the CM called on parents, school administrations, the media, religious scholars and the civil society to play their respective roles in supporting the campaign. He urged the media to promote awareness and counter misinformation while encouraging religious and community leaders to advocate for vaccination.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the polio workers and the security personnel, commending their dedication in reaching remote and high-risk areas under challenging conditions. Referring to continued national efforts, the CM appreciated the support of First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari in promoting polio eradication, recalling that Benazir Bhutto had set a historic precedent by administering polio drops to her daughter during earlier campaigns.
Concluding his remarks, Shah reiterated that eliminating polio is vital for the country’s future, and called for collective action to ensure that every child receives the life-saving vaccination, paving the way for a polio-free Pakistan.
Media talk
In his interaction with the media at the inauguration ceremony, Shah highlighted broader national and international developments, linking effective governance and diplomacy with public welfare initiatives such as the anti-polio campaign.
He expressed confidence that President Asif Ali Zardari would continue to play a constructive role in steering the country towards stability and progress. “The president, the prime minister and the defence leadership are working in coordination for the betterment of Pakistan.”
Referring to recent diplomatic engagements, the CM noted that both Iran and the United States have demonstrated trust in Pakistan’s leadership by engaging with Islamabad. “Forces that were once unwilling to talk have now come to the table. This reflects the success of Pakistan’s diplomacy,” he remarked, adding that diplomacy is a continuous process, and its positive outcomes would become more visible over time.
Praising the efforts of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the CM said that despite holding no official government office, he remains fully active on diplomatic and public fronts. He credited Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with playing an effective role in negotiations.
Responding to a question, the CM said Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is taking a keen interest in development initiatives, particularly in Lyari. He added that under his direction, the chief secretary has been tasked with working alongside National Engineering Services Pakistan to prepare a comprehensive development plan for the area.
The CM also addressed political criticism, saying that the opposition’s reactions often reflect the effectiveness of the government’s work. “If we had been performing poorly, our opponents would have been satisfied. Their criticism indicates that meaningful work is being done.”
Highlighting national unity during challenging times, he revealed that President Asif Ali Zardari had convened an important meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr in the wake of regional tensions, bringing together CMs from all provinces.
He noted that even the CM of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who had not attended such meetings previously, participated. Shah credited this inclusion to the efforts of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
On governance issues, Shah underscored that blocking a citizen’s national identity card is not permissible, calling it a fundamental right that must be protected. Turning back to polio eradication, the CM reiterated his personal commitment, noting that he has consistently inaugurated anti-polio campaigns himself.
He recalled that during 2017-18, Pakistan had achieved zero polio cases, but momentum had slowed in subsequent years. “Even then, the Sindh government had voiced concerns at the federal level regarding the lack of focus.”
He concluded by urging all segments of society to play their respective roles in eliminating polio, stressing that collective efforts are essential to securing a healthier future for the country
