The last national polio campaign ended in December 2025 with more than 44.6 million children vaccinated across Pakistan.
Pakistan has recorded a significant decline in polio cases following stricter regulation of cross-border movement with Afghanistan, marking a major milestone in the country’s eradication efforts.
The decision to regulate unorganized cross-border movement with Afghanistan has emerged as a major factor in the country’s improved performance against polio in 2025, according to health officials and surveillance data. Officials say tighter controls on the movement of people and goods across the border have strengthened surveillance systems and reduced opportunities for the virus to spread.
Official figures show that polio cases fell by 59.5% in 2025, with transmission now limited to fewer geographic areas compared to previous years. This confinement allowed vaccination teams to concentrate their efforts in high-risk districts, thus improving coverage and monitoring of vulnerable populations.
The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has long posed a challenge to polio eradication due to frequent and largely unmanaged population movements. Afghanistan continues to report circulation of wild poliovirus, and repeated cross-border travel has historically contributed to reimportation of the virus into Pakistan. Children from mobile families often miss routine immunizations and multiple vaccine doses, increasing the risk of continued transmission.
Health officials say better regulation of cross-border movements, as well as the repatriation of undocumented Afghan immigrants, have reduced this risk. Thanks to more structured border management, vaccination at transit points has improved and mobile populations are now easier to track. This has helped close long-standing gaps in vaccination coverage.
Additionally, surveillance systems have become more effective as population flows are now better documented. Officials note that environmental sampling and tracking of suspected cases have improved, allowing for faster detection and response.
Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause permanent paralysis, mainly affecting children under the age of five. Experts emphasize that while vaccination remains the cornerstone of eradication, Pakistan’s experience in 2025 shows that regulating cross-border movement is an essential public health measure, especially in the latter stages of eliminating the virus.
Health authorities emphasize that sustained vaccination campaigns, continued vigilance and regional cooperation will be essential to preserve and consolidate the gains made this year.
The latest national polio campaign of 2025 ended in December last year with more than 44.6 million children vaccinated across Pakistan. According to the National Emergency Operations Center, the campaign achieved its goals nationwide. Official figures released by national COEs show that around 22.9 million children received polio drops in Punjab, while around 10.6 million children were vaccinated in Sindh.
