ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported a significant decline in the circulation of the poliovirus, with environmental surveillance showing a marked reduction in positive samples during the first half of 2026, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).
The NEOC said the positivity rate in environmental samples fell to 13.1 per cent during the January–June period, indicating continued progress in the country’s efforts to eliminate the disease.
In June alone, 127 environmental samples were collected nationwide for surveillance. Of these, 117 tested negative, while the poliovirus was detected in only 10 samples.
Compared with the same six-month period last year, the number of positive environmental samples declined sharply from 369 to 100, reflecting a substantial decrease in virus circulation across the country.
Punjab recorded a completely clean result, with all 31 samples testing negative. In Sindh, 28 of 29 samples were negative, while 30 of 34 samples collected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa showed no presence of the virus. Balochistan also recorded encouraging results, with 18 out of 23 samples testing negative.
The NEOC added that only three polio cases have been confirmed nationwide so far this year.
Officials said the downward trend is the result of intensified vaccination campaigns and improved access to children in high-risk areas. The centre reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every eligible child receives the polio vaccine.
The NEOC also appealed to parents, community leaders, and religious scholars to continue supporting immunisation campaigns, while praising frontline polio workers for their dedication and urging the public to cooperate with vaccination teams.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the government’s resolve to eliminate polio during a meeting in Islamabad with Dr. Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Gates Foundation.
The prime minister said the government is implementing a comprehensive strategy in close coordination with provincial authorities to strengthen vaccination efforts and ensure uninterrupted access for polio teams across the country.
He also thanked the Gates Foundation and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their continued support in Pakistan’s fight against polio, noting that although considerable progress has been made, sustained emergency measures remain essential to achieve complete eradication.
