Chairing a meeting of the provincial polio task force at his office on Tuesday, the chief minister expressed deep concern over environmental surveillance results that show a widespread threat of the virus in Karachi and several other divisions.
Surveillance data for November showed that 10 of 12 sampling sites in Karachi and 11 of 17 sites in other districts tested positive. Terming the situation alarming and unacceptable, the chief minister called for coordinated and disciplined vaccination efforts to prevent further spread of the virus.
During the briefing, the Emergency Operations Centre shared that Sindh has confirmed nine polio cases in 2025. These include three from Badin, two from Thatta and one each from Hyderabad, Qambar, Larkana and Umerkot. Karachi’s last case was recorded in December 2024 in Gujro in the east district.
Officials reported that more than 75 percent of sewage samples collected since mid 2023 have tested positive, marking the highest rate recorded in over ten years and indicating persistent transmission in the environment.
While reviewing district performance, the chief minister was told that 87 percent of lots passed quality checks during the October national immunisation campaign and that 27 of 206 lots failed. He expressed dissatisfaction and instructed deputy commissioners to stay fully involved in field operations, warning that there would be no tolerance for administrative negligence.
He directed that morning assemblies be held regularly, frontline vaccination workers remain completely mobilised and target children be reached during campaign days rather than through post campaign activity.
District health officers were told to enforce zero tolerance on absenteeism and data manipulation. Union council support teams were directed to resolve field level issues without delay.
Officials said that the upcoming national anti polio vaccination campaign will run from December 15 to December 21 and will aim to vaccinate 10.6 million children across 1,345 union councils in 30 districts.
More than 80,000 frontline workers and over 21,000 police personnel including nearly 400 women constables will take part in the campaign. The chief minister stressed timely deployment of police at morning assemblies and said women constables should be assigned to high refusal areas to improve access.
Karachi’s central district and Sukkur were praised for their strong performance. Karachi central district arranged transport and deployment of 4,000 polio workers with support from NGOs and town administrations.
Sukkur completed assessment of all 300 AICs, replaced 13 low performing AICs and improved coverage in high risk union councils. These districts have set an example and others were urged to follow their model.
The meeting was told that 85 percent of zero dose children have been vaccinated although around 12,000 children remain unvaccinated. The chief minister directed that all refusal cases be resolved during the upcoming campaign and asked local governments and district administrations to follow up directly.
He also called for stronger community engagement, effective messaging, involvement of influencers and a unified media strategy. He said discipline, accountability and public trust are now essential and added that no child in Sindh should remain unvaccinated.
The meeting was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, AIG Javed Alam Odho, senior health officials, EOC Coordinator Shehryar Gul and representatives of UNICEF, WHO and Rotary International. Commissioners, deputy commissioners, DIGs and SSPs from other divisions joined through video link.
