What happened
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) announced that a special anti-polio campaign will be conducted from 18 to 24 May in 79 selected districts across Pakistan, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.
During the campaign, about 19 million children are to be given polio drops, according to the NEOC. The drive is to be carried out simultaneously in Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of coordinated efforts to eliminate polio from the region.
Where the campaign will run
The agency gave a provincial breakdown of the targets. In Punjab, about 6.19 million children are to be vaccinated across 10 selected districts. In Sindh, the campaign will target 5.79 million children in 20 districts.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 4.61 million children are to receive polio drops in 23 districts, while in Balochistan the campaign is to cover 1.99 million children in 25 districts. A further 450,000 children in Islamabad are to be vaccinated.
Why it matters
Health authorities described a polio-free future for children as a shared national responsibility and urged parents to cooperate with polio teams, open their doors to frontline workers and ensure their children receive the vaccine. Officials said collective efforts and community support were essential to eradicating polio in Pakistan.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published material, not independent reporting. Source reviewed on 2026-05-06.
- Primary source — Associated Press of Pakistan: “Special polio vaccination drive to launch from May 18”6 May 2026 · Reports the NEOC announcement, the 18-24 May dates, the 79 districts, the national and provincial vaccination targets, and the appeal to parents.
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