KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah is exploring stringent actions against parents who decline to vaccinate their children against polio.
During a meeting focused on polio elimination at the CM House, CM Shah indicated that measures such as blocking SIM cards, suspending national identity cards (CNICs), and revoking passports for those who refuse vaccination are under consideration. This was confirmed in a statement issued from the Chief Minister’s Office on Friday.
“I see no alternative but to impose penalties on parents who neglect their duty to protect their children from polio—a responsibility that extends beyond individual families to the entire community,” Shah remarked.
He emphasized that refusal to vaccinate not only endangers the children involved but also facilitates the spread of the virus to others in the region.
The CM directed Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to develop and present a detailed plan for implementing the proposed restrictions on SIMs, CNICs, and passports of vaccine refusers.
Additionally, a Polio Vaccine Refusal Cell has been established at the CM House. This unit will compile data from union councils regarding parents who decline vaccination, enabling targeted efforts through social, political, and administrative channels.
Expressing concern over the persistent emergence of new polio cases, Shah urged the health department and district authorities to intensify their vaccination campaigns. He warned that officials failing to deliver results would be replaced, noting recent removals of some officers from health and administrative positions.
The CM highlighted that most recent cases have been concentrated in border districts and stressed the importance of including nomadic populations in upcoming vaccination drives, especially in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions.
Last month, Sindh reported two additional polio cases, bringing its total to nine. Nationwide, Pakistan has recorded 29 cases, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leading at 18, Sindh with nine, and Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir reporting one each.
