The Polio Emergency in Pakistan

Background Paper



Unlike the rest of the world where poliovirus had decreased by over 99% since 1988, Pakistan remains one of the only two countries of the world where polio virus not only exists but has been on the rise since 2015. However, the first six months of 2021 is showing declining trend of the polio virus. Negative public perception against polio vaccination remains one of the key hindrances in ending polio in Pakistan.

The Briefing Paper on Polio Emergency in Pakistan prepared for the Pakistan’s elected representatives in parliament and provincial Assemblies. It is critically important that eradication of polio from Pakistan becomes a national cause in which public representatives take a lead to support and reinforce State’s drive initiatives to end polio.

PILDAT has made every effort to ensure that data obtained from public sources and the Polio Programme is presented without any errors or omissions.