Islamabad, February 3 (IANS). Despite aggressive eradication campaigns conducted for more than three decades, polio remains a problem in Pakistan. According to media reports, polio eradication efforts have not achieved the expected success due to public distrust and systemic flaws.
According to The Express Tribune’s T-Magazine report, Pakistan started the first anti-polio campaign in the year 1994. Despite this, a total of 14,206 confirmed polio cases have been recorded in the country in the last 31 years.
The report said the absence of an effective government-run system for the treatment, rehabilitation and long-term social inclusion of children disabled by polio has created an “invisible population” of polio victims in the country.
The report said, “So far, there are neither public rehabilitation centers, nor vocational training programs, nor any system of psychosocial support for polio victims in the country. As a result, families have to resort to expensive private treatment, which is unaffordable for many. In the absence of structured support, children and adults with disabilities become victims of neglect and exploitation and face persistent barriers to education, employment and social participation.”
According to National Emergency Operations Center data, the highest number of polio cases in Pakistan was 2,635 in 1994, after which there was a gradual decline in cases.
However, the year 2025 saw a surge in polio cases again. A total of 30 cases were reported from across the country, of which the maximum 19 cases were reported from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), nine from Sindh, and one case each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. In the worst-affected province Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, most of the cases were reported from North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Lower Kohistan, Torghar and Bannu.
The report said that despite mass vaccination campaigns that have been going on for decades, polio is still spreading in Pakistan. The main reason for this is the deep-seated distrust among the public and continued opposition to vaccination. A combination of misinformation, political interference and security challenges have made polio drops a subject of controversy, undermining eradication efforts.
According to the report, lack of public confidence is a major reason why polio still remains endemic. Along with this, security threats have also made the situation more serious.
Additionally, the problem remains due to weak communication and public relations strategies and lack of environmental monitoring. Due to these flaws, the presence of polio virus is still being found in sewage samples of many provinces.
–IANS
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