ISLAMABAD: A week-long polio vaccination campaign will begin from Monday in 79 selected high-risk districts of the country in which more than 19 million children will be administered polio drops.

The drive will continue till May 24. Over 160,000 polio workers will participate in the nationwide drive to ensure successful implementation of the campaign.

According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) the anti-polio campaign will be conducted simultaneously in both Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of coordinated regional efforts to eradicate polio from the region.

In Punjab, around 6.19 million children will be vaccinated in 10 selected districts. In Sindh, around 5.79m children will receive polio drops in 20 selected districts.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, around 4.61m children will be vaccinated in 23 selected districts and in Balochistan, around 1.99m children will receive polio drops in 25 selected districts.

In Islamabad, around 450,000 children will be administered polio drops.

The NEOC has urged the people to welcome polio teams and cooperate fully with them to help protect children from the virus.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2026