The latest national anti-polio campaign concluded on December 25 with more than 44.6 million children vaccinated across Pakistan.
Pakistan has recorded a significant decline in polio cases following stricter regulation of cross-border movement with Afghanistan, marking a major milestone in the country’s eradication efforts.
The decision to regulate unorganized cross-border movement with Afghanistan has become a major factor behind the country’s improved performance against polio in 2025, according to health officials and surveillance data. Officials say stricter controls on the movement of people and goods across the border have strengthened monitoring systems and reduced opportunities for the virus to spread.
Official figures show that polio cases fell by 59.5% in 2025, and transmission is now restricted to fewer geographic areas compared to previous years. This containment has allowed vaccination teams to focus their efforts on high-risk districts, improving both coverage and monitoring among vulnerable populations.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan border has long posed a challenge to polio eradication due to frequent and largely uncontrolled population movements. Afghanistan continues to report circulation of wild poliovirus, and repeated trips across the border have historically contributed to the reimportation of the virus into Pakistan. Children in mobile families often skipped routine vaccination and multiple vaccine doses, increasing the risk of continued transmission.
Health officials say better regulation of cross-border movement, along with the repatriation of undocumented Afghan migrants, has reduced this risk. With more structured border management, vaccination at transit points has improved and mobile populations are now easier to track. This has helped close long-standing gaps in immunization coverage.
Furthermore, surveillance systems have become more effective as population flows are now better documented. Officials note that environmental sampling and tracking of suspected cases have improved, allowing for faster detection and response.
Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis and primarily affects children under five years of age. Experts emphasize that while vaccination remains the cornerstone of eradication, Pakistan’s experience in 2025 shows that regulated cross-border movement is a critical public health measure, particularly in the final stages of virus elimination.
Health authorities emphasize that sustained immunization campaigns, continued surveillance and regional cooperation will be essential to preserve and build on the gains made this year.
The latest national polio campaign of 2025 concluded in December last year with more than 44.6 million children vaccinated across Pakistan. According to the National Emergency Operations Center, the campaign achieved its objectives throughout the country. Official figures released by the National COE show that around 22.9 million children received polio drops in Punjab, while around 10.6 million children were vaccinated in Sindh.
