Health authorities have warned that Karachi has overtaken southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as Pakistan’s most potent source of poliovirus.
At a joint press briefing, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, said Karachi remains the “most potent exporter of poliovirus,” surpassing southern KP, from where 16 of the 18 reported cases originated earlier.
The next nationwide anti-polio campaign will begin on October 13, targeting over 45.4 million children under five across Pakistan, with vitamin A supplements included to boost immunity. In southern KP, the campaign will run from October 20 to 23 due to access challenges.
Over 403,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 women vaccinators, will participate. Farooq said the number of missing children had declined from 1.1 million in October 2024 to 830,000 in May 2025, showing better planning and accountability.
Pakistan has reported 29 polio cases so far in 2025 and 501 positive environmental samples, indicating ongoing transmission. Officials urged parents to vaccinate their children, calling community cooperation vital to finally eradicating the disease from Pakistan.