ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal has announced notable progress in Pakistan’s ongoing campaign against poliovirus, stating that the latest environmental surveillance results show a sharp improvement in virus detection trends.
According to the minister, 28 out of 29 environmental samples tested negative, marking the highest number of negative samples recorded since August 2023. He said this reflects a significant reduction in poliovirus circulation, particularly in Karachi Division, where 11 out of 12 samples tested negative for the first time.
He further noted that all 17 environmental samples from different divisions of Sindh have also returned negative results, indicating strong progress in the province’s anti-polio efforts.
Mustafa Kamal highlighted that poliovirus circulation has been eliminated in areas such as Qambar and Kashmore after a long period, while Badin and Mirpurkhas have reported negative environmental samples for two consecutive months, which he described as an important achievement.
The minister said the government is utilizing all available resources to fully eradicate polio from the country. He also announced that a special anti-polio vaccination campaign will be launched in Karachi in July 2026, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting every child and achieving a polio-free Pakistan.
