Which Districts in Pakistan Are Most at Risk for Polio?
News Desk
Islamabad: The poliovirus has been detected in environmental sewage samples from multiple high-risk districts across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), confirming the virus’s persistent threat in these regions.
According to health authorities, sewage samples from 21 districts across the country have tested positive for polio in 2025, bringing the total number of positive environmental samples this year to 47.
The latest detection includes samples collected between January 8 and January 23, confirming the presence of Wild PolioVirus Type 1 (WPV1) in key vulnerable areas.
Polio-High Risk Districts
Balochistan: Dera Bugti, Hub, Khuzdar, Nushki, Naseerabad, Osta Muhammad, Zhob, and Lasbela.
Punjab: Lahore, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Peshawar, Charsadda, Swabi, and Tank.
Sindh: Karachi East.
Islamabad & AJK: Muzaffarabad.
Among these, Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Islamabad remain long-standing polio hotspots due to factors such as low immunization coverage, high population density, and frequent cross-border movement.
Pakistan’s Polio Challenge in 2025
Pakistan reported its first confirmed polio case of 2025 earlier this year, highlighting the urgent need for sustained vaccination efforts. Environmental samples continue to indicate the widespread circulation of the virus, particularly in regions where vaccination efforts face challenges due to security concerns, misinformation, and community resistance.
Government’s Response
On February 2, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched Pakistan’s 2025 anti-polio campaign, personally administering polio drops to children under five. The campaign aims to vaccinate millions of children across the country, particularly in high-risk districts, to curb the spread of the virus.
Health experts have reiterated the need for enhanced surveillance, stronger community engagement, and consistent immunization efforts to achieve polio eradication.
Despite significant progress, Pakistan remains one of the two last polio-endemic countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan.
