Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the formulation of a comprehensive and coordinated strategy, in consultation with all four provinces, within a week to eradicate polio from the country. He was chairing a review meeting on polio eradication in Islamabad today. The Prime Minister stressed the need to ensure the complete eradication of polio from Pakistan through close consultation with the provinces and a joint strategy involving all stakeholders. He said achieving a polio-free Pakistan is a major challenge, but the nation’s determination and resolve are stronger than the challenge. Shehbaz Sharif directed the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Minister of State, Federal Secretary for National Health and members of the Polio Eradication Team to immediately visit all four provinces and hold meetings with the respective Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries. The Prime Minister expressed concern over the recent polio cases reported in the country and called for intensified efforts and an improved strategy to combat the disease. He also directed the authorities to further improve routine immunization coverage, particularly in polio-affected and high-risk areas. Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the commitment and dedicated services of frontline polio workers and law enforcement agencies in ensuring the successful conduct of anti-polio campaigns across the country. He also commended the significant improvement in access for anti-polio campaigns in security-sensitive and challenging areas. The Prime Minister said ensuring uninterrupted access for frontline workers and their security during vaccination campaigns remains the government’s top priority. The meeting was informed that a new polio case had been reported from Khyber district today, bringing the total number of cases in the country to nine this year. Of these, seven cases have been reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including three each from Khyber and Bannu districts and one from North Waziristan. All three cases reported from Khyber district are linked to the poliovirus originating from Afghanistan. Two cases have been reported from Sindh, one each from Karachi East and Sujawal districts. The meeting was informed that cross-border movement from Afghanistan is currently one of the major factors contributing to the spread of polio in Pakistan. It was further briefed that no new polio case has been reported in Punjab since February 2025, while Balochistan has reported no new cases in 2025 and 2026. Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are already polio-free. A decline in the detection of poliovirus in environmental samples has also been observed in Sindh this year. The meeting was informed that all possible measures are being taken to improve the security of polio teams and ensure better access to the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.