ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s commitment to a polio-free future was reaffirmed on World Children’s Day, with Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s focal person for polio eradication, emphasizing the country’s duty to protect every child from the crippling virus.
In her message, Ayesha Raza Farooq stressed that healthy childhood begins with effective disease prevention, urging parents to ensure their children receive two drops of the polio vaccine during every national immunization campaign. She highlighted that safeguarding children from polio remains essential to Pakistan’s long-term health and development goals.
“World Children’s Day reminds us that Pakistan’s children can only thrive when they are protected from polio,” she stated, calling on families and communities to play an active role in vaccination efforts.
A call for collective responsibility
Ayesha Raza Farooq emphasized that eliminating polio is not only a public health duty but a shared national responsibility. She encouraged citizens to pledge universal access to vaccines, ensuring that no child is left behind due to misinformation, fear, or geographic barriers.
“Protect children from polio today to ensure a stronger and healthier Pakistan tomorrow,” she added, reinforcing the critical importance of consistent immunization to break the chain of transmission.
Pakistan remains one of the final two countries where wild poliovirus continues to circulate, making sustained community participation essential to achieving global eradication targets.
