KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has warned that the provincial government is considering drastic measures against parents who refuse to vaccinate their children against polio, including the blocking of mobile phone SIMs and suspension of national identity cards and passports.
Chairing a meeting on polio eradication at CM House on Friday, the Chief Minister expressed deep concern over the continued reporting of new cases despite years of efforts. He said refusal of the polio vaccine not only puts children at risk of permanent disability but also threatens the health of communities across Sindh and Pakistan.
“I have no other option but to penalize those who shirk their national duty of eradicating polio,” Shah said. “This is a responsibility that begins at home but impacts the entire province and country.”
Polio refusal cell at CM House
In a decisive move, Murad Ali Shah announced the establishment of a dedicated ‘Polio Drop Refusal Cell’ at CM House. The Health Department has been instructed to provide union council–wise details of parents refusing vaccination so that officials, elected representatives, and law enforcement can directly engage with them.
Deputy Commissioners and SSPs have also been tasked to visit households where refusals persist and ensure that children are vaccinated.
Rising polio cases
The CM was briefed that Sindh has so far reported nine out of the 29 polio cases nationwide this year. The latest two cases were confirmed in Thatta and Badin, while earlier infections were detected in Mithi, Umerkot, Hyderabad, Qambar, Larkana, and Karachi.
Most of these cases, officials reported, occurred because parents either refused vaccination or children were not available at home during campaigns. Environmental samples have also confirmed the presence of the polio virus in multiple areas of Karachi, including Sohrab Goth, Orangi, Keamari, Malir, Korangi, and Hijrat Colony.
Strict action against negligence
The CM warned that negligence in polio campaigns would not be tolerated.
“Any official not showing performance will no longer be part of my team. I have already removed some officers from the Health Department and administration, and I will continue to do so if required,” he said.
Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho and EOC Coordinator Irshad Sodhar also briefed the CM, highlighting that during the September campaign, 216,664 children missed vaccination, including 181,142 not available at home and 35,522 whose parents refused the vaccine.
Proposed penalties
Given the gravity of the crisis, Murad Ali Shah instructed Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to prepare a plan for blocking mobile SIMs, suspending CNICs, and invalidating passports of parents who repeatedly refuse polio vaccination.
He emphasized that such measures, while strict, are necessary to protect children from life-long disability and to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Refusing polio vaccination is absolutely unacceptable. No parent has the right to put their child’s health and the future of other children at risk,” he said.
October campaign: A war-like approach
The CM directed the Health Department and local administrations to launch the upcoming October 13 polio campaign with a war-like approach, ensuring that nomadic populations and families in border areas are also fully covered.
