Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal held meetings in Riyadh with Dr. Chris Elias, Chair of the Polio Oversight Board, and Dr. Hanan Balkhi, WHO Regional Director, to review measures aimed at accelerating polio eradication in Pakistan.
The minister reiterated that polio eradication is the government’s top priority and said that under the Prime Minister’s leadership Pakistan is firmly committed to eliminating the disease. He described a coordinated and effective strategy to deliver high-quality vaccination campaigns nationwide, with targeted focus on South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, central Pakistan and Karachi, where risk remains elevated.
Mustafa Kamal highlighted efforts to reduce cases of vaccine refusal by working closely with religious and social leaders. He also emphasized strengthening the link between the polio programme and routine immunization services to broaden protection and improve vaccine coverage across communities.
A Ministry spokesman said the government is implementing effective measures to bolster protective immunization and ensure campaign quality. Dr. Chris Elias praised Pakistan’s actions against polio and affirmed continued multi-level cooperation to achieve polio eradication.
