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Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a meeting with Rotary International President Larry A Lunsford at the CM House on Monday reviewed ongoing efforts to eradicate polio in the province and declared that polio eradication remained one of the highest priorities of the Sindh government.
He noted that a sustained decline in environmental detections and the absence of a human polio case for more than five months indicated that the province’s anti-polio drive was on the right track.
“The provincial government has stepped up efforts to strengthen routine immunisation and protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases across Sindh,” said the CM on the occasion.
The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by Secretary to CM Asif Jameel, Acting Health Secretary Hafiz Abbasi, Shehryar Gul and the Sindh Emergency Operation Centre (EOC)coordinator .
The Rotary side was represented by National Chair & Trustee Aziz Memon, Rotary District Governor Shahzad Sabir, District Governor-Elect Fahad Sikander, Jabar Sheikh and Salim Rao. Welcoming the Rotary International president, Shah thanked the organisation for its unwavering support for Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts and acknowledged the organisation’s long-standing partnership in safeguarding children’s health.
The CM briefed the delegation on the latest progress made under Sindh’s anti-polio programme, and highlighted encouraging epidemiological indicators that suggested significant gains in interrupting virus transmission.
“Polio eradication remains one of the highest priorities of the Sindh government. The encouraging decline in environmental detections and the absence of a human polio case for more than five months demonstrate that our collective efforts are moving in the right direction,” said the CM.
He emphasised that the government remained fully committed to sustaining momentum until the virus was completely eliminated. “While the progress is encouraging, we are not complacent. Our focus is on reaching every child, particularly in high-risk and mobile populations. We will continue strengthening surveillance, routine immunisation, community engagement and accountability mechanisms to ensure that no child is left behind,” he added.
The CM informed the delegation that Sindh had significantly strengthened its polio programme through innovative interventions, including the Karachi Action Plan, extended-age vaccination campaigns, deployment of union council immunisation officers, enhanced surveillance systems and stronger integration between the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and polio operations.
Sharing key achievements, officials noted that eight out of 29 environmental surveillance sites in Sindh tested negative for poliovirus in June 2026, the highest level of negative results since June 2023.
Sindh had also remained free from a confirmed human polio case since February 2026, when the last case was reported from Sujawal district, the meeting was told. The CM highlighted the successful extended-age fIPV plus OPV booster campaign in Karachi, under which approximately 2.6 million children in 89 high-risk union committees were vaccinated.
He said similar risk-based interventions were now being planned for other vulnerable areas of the province. Lunsford commended the Sindh government, frontline workers and partner organisations for the progress achieved against polio. “The progress being reported from Sindh is highly encouraging and reflects strong political commitment, effective programme management and the dedication of thousands of frontline workers,” said the Rotary International president.
He added that the Rotary International remained firmly committed to supporting Pakistan’s journey towards a polio-free future. “The achievements in Sindh demonstrate what can be accomplished when governments, communities and development partners work together with a shared purpose,” he remarked.
The Rotary International president particularly appreciated Sindh’s focus on community engagement, vaccine acceptance, surveillance strengthening and innovative approaches to reaching missed and mobile children.
The CM reiterated that the provincial government had made substantial investments to sustain polio eradication gains and strengthen primary healthcare systems. “Polio eradication is not merely a health objective; it is a commitment to the future of our children. The Government of Sindh will continue to provide every possible support and resource required to achieve a polio-free Sindh and a polio-free Pakistan,” he added .
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their resolve to maintain close collaboration and accelerate efforts aimed at permanently interrupting poliovirus transmission throughout the province and the country.
