Last Updated on September 19, 2026 by YeJahan
YEJAHAN REPORT
KARACHI (Sept 19): The government of Sindh has announced a sweeping anti-polio drive aimed at vaccinating more than 10 million children, alongside an unprecedented directive compelling national broadcasters to spearhead the public health message.
The sub-national immunization campaign, scheduled to run from 21 to 27 September 2026, will deploy tens of thousands of healthcare workers to target every child under the age of five across all 30 districts of the province.
In an unusual move to dominate the airwaves, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has issued an urgent letter to media houses, ordering television and radio stations to dedicate the first 15 seconds of every hourly news bulletin exclusively to the polio eradication campaign. The provincial government expects broadcasters to use these dedicated slots to underscore the vital importance of the oral vaccine, framing the media’s influence as “decisive” in the final push to eliminate the crippling disease.
“The mission will only be complete when every child is protected,” Murad Ali Shah said. “No child should remain unvaccinated due to negligence or a lack of follow-up.”
Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired Provincial Polio Task Force meeting, reaffirmed commitment to a Polio-Free Sindh and Pakistan. A 7-day anti-polio campaign will run from Sept 21–27 across 30 districts, targeting 10 million children under 5. #EndPolio #PolioFreePakistan #Sindh pic.twitter.com/8uLZscS6Ws
— Sindh Chief Minister House (@SindhCMHouse) September 16, 2026
The operational strategy splits the province into two tiers: 23 districts will undergo total, comprehensive coverage, while the remaining seven districts will see targeted, partial immunization campaigns concentrated in high-risk union councils.
To counter parental refusals and security concerns—long the twin hurdles of Pakistan’s eradication efforts—the provincial administration is deploying more than 80,000 frontline health workers backed by a security force of over 26,000 police personnel. Financial incentives for the frontline teams have also been increased by 28 per cent to boost morale ahead of the seven-day push.
The high-stakes drive comes at a critical juncture for the province, with health officials eager to lock down immunity levels before seasonal migration patterns threaten to spread the virus across provincial lines.
Copyright YeJahan News Network, 2026
