Bajaur: PM denounces terrorist attack on polio vaccination team

WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday denounced a terrorist attack targeting a polio vaccination team in Bajaur, describing it as a cowardly assault on a critical public health effort.

In a statement, the prime minister conveyed profound grief over the killing of a police officer assigned to guard the vaccination team, while also expressing concern for a civilian who was injured in the shooting. He extended condolences to the family of the fallen officer and prayed for the speedy recovery of the wounded.

The prime minister directed law enforcement agencies to immediately trace those responsible for the attack and ensure they are brought to justice. He stressed that violence against workers engaged in national health campaigns is unacceptable and undermines efforts to protect future generations.

Reaffirming the government’s resolve, Shehbaz Sharif said the polio eradication drive would continue without interruption, adding that such attacks would not deter Pakistan from its goal of completely eliminating polio from the country.

Final nationwide polio vaccination campaign commences

Pakistan’s final nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025 began this week, aiming to immunise more than 45 million children across the country, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The campaign will run from December 15 to December 21 and is a key step in Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate the disease.

More than 400,000 polio workers, including health professionals, volunteers and community members, will be deployed to administer vaccines through door-to-door visits to ensure maximum coverage. Punjab will vaccinate over 23 million children, Sindh more than 16 million, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over 7.2 million. Balochistan is targeting more than 2.6 million children, Islamabad over 460,000, Gilgit-Baltistan more than 228,000, and Azad Kashmir approximately 7 million children.

The National EOC emphasised that polio eradication is a shared national responsibility and called on parents and communities to cooperate fully with vaccination teams. While Pakistan has made significant progress in reducing polio cases in recent years, authorities stress that sustained vigilance is essential.

The EOC urged parents to ensure their children receive polio drops and to report any missed vaccinations during the campaign, underscoring that this final drive of the year is critical to maintaining momentum toward a polio-free Pakistan.