Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday reaffirmed her government’s commitment to eradicating polio from the province, urging parents, healthcare workers and communities to support vaccination campaigns as World Polio Day was observed.
In a special message, the chief minister paid tribute to frontline polio workers, describing them as national heroes and stressing the need for collective efforts to protect children from the disease.
She said polio vaccines were safe and effective, warning that refusal to vaccinate children could jeopardise their health and future.
Maryam Nawaz urged parents to ensure that every child under five received two drops of the polio vaccine during each immunisation campaign.
The chief minister said Punjab had not reported any polio cases so far this year, while the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre and the Health Department continued their efforts to eliminate the disease.
She said regular vaccination campaigns were being conducted in Lahore and other districts to maintain immunisation coverage and prevent the spread of poliovirus.
According to the chief minister, more than 10 million children under five had been administered polio drops across 13 high-risk districts of the province.
She added that environmental samples were being tested regularly across Punjab to monitor the possible circulation of the virus.
Maryam Nawaz said preparations had been completed for a sub-national polio vaccination campaign scheduled to take place from November 2 to 8, 2026, in selected districts of Punjab alongside the nationwide initiative.
District health management teams, representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and local administrations would oversee the campaign to ensure its effective implementation.
The chief minister stressed that continued vigilance was essential to prevent the re-emergence of poliovirus in the province.She called on parents, healthcare professionals, vaccination teams and the public to work together to protect children from lifelong disability and secure a healthier future for the next generation.
