Islamabad: The Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR) of the National Assembly has called for urgent and robust legislative action to eradicate Wild Polio Virus (WPV1) from Pakistan, stressing that the elimination of polio is both a constitutional responsibility and a moral imperative. The call was made during a high-level meeting titled “Polio-Free Pakistan: A Legislative Priority” held at Parliament House, Islamabad, chaired by the Convenor of PCCR, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, MNA. The meeting was attended by parliamentary secretaries, members of PCCR, government officials from the Health and Finance Divisions, civil society representatives, and experts associated with the national polio program.
Speaking at the session, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan underscored the need for mandatory vaccination legislation, strong deterrence against vaccine refusal, enhanced state support for polio-affected children, and the formulation of a comprehensive Polio Eradication Act. She reiterated PCCR’s commitment to unified national action, strengthened oversight mechanisms, harmonization of provincial laws, and widespread awareness campaigns to ensure nationwide attention to polio eradication.
National Coordinator of the Polio Program, Ministry of Health, Capt. (R) Anwar-ul-Haq, briefed participants on the current epidemiological situation. He reported a significant decline in WPV1 cases, noting that no new case has been reported since September 2025. However, he warned of growing concerns in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which accounts for more than half of the recent virus detections. He also shared detailed year-wise data from 2021 to 2025, highlighted five priority risk zones, and outlined the progress and challenges faced by provinces in ongoing vaccination campaigns.
During the open-floor discussion, parliamentarians and civil society members highlighted key issues including virus spread due to population movement, weak federal–provincial coordination, inadequate training of frontline workers, limited monitoring in remote regions, and increasing parental refusal in high-risk districts. Addressing these concerns, Capt. (R) Anwar-ul-Haq emphasized the need to focus resources and attention on South KP, Karachi, and Hyderabad—areas with the highest rates of refusal. He noted that routine immunization, national campaigns, and consistent community engagement are critical to strengthening public trust.
In its concluding recommendations, the forum called for a child-centred and community-driven strategy to eliminate polio. Participants stressed that underweight and medically vulnerable children require additional support for successful immunization. Establishing mothers’ committees at grassroots levels was proposed as a key step to counter misinformation and promote vaccine acceptance. Strengthening the cold-chain system, improving monitoring of polio workers, expanding vaccinations to young adults who may serve as carriers, and increasing public awareness through media and storytelling-based initiatives were also among the key recommendations.
The meeting concluded with a strong endorsement for introducing legislative incentives that encourage rather than penalize families, with the aim of building parental confidence and strengthening nationwide trust in the immunization process.