International and national experts gathered at the Aga Khan University to deliver a clear and unified message: despite the remaining challenges, the world is closer than ever to ending polio. The event, organized in partnership with WHO drew over 400 participants in person and online and highlighted how three decades of sustained work have brought Pakistan to the brink of eliminating the virus.
Speakers noted that Pakistan has reduced polio cases by 99.6% since the 1990s, falling from nearly 20,000 cases a year to just 30 so far in 2025. They reminded the audience that vaccines have repeatedly proven effective, and that the infrastructure built for polio eradication represents one of the strongest public health systems in the region. The recent detection of wild poliovirus in Germany served as a powerful reminder that no country is safe until every country is polio-free.
WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Luo Dapeng emphasized that polio eradication is both morally right and scientifically achievable. He said that it is not the moment to scale back efforts, especially when global health security depends on finishing the job. Sindh’s State Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho supported this urgency, reminding participants that Pakistan’s progress contributes to global safety.
Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, highlighted the programme’s scientific foundations. She shared how Pakistan’s extensive and sensitive surveillance network now allows experts to quickly detect and respond to any signs of the virus. She expressed optimism that the country is close to crossing the finish line and stressed that commitment must continue until transmission ends everywhere.
WHO Director for Polio Eradication Dr Jamal Ahmed pointed to decades of evidence proving that vaccines can eliminate the virus even in the most challenging settings. He urged renewed belief and unity, noting that if Pakistan succeeds, the world will see its first polio-free future. Other experts, including Dr Mohammed Soghaier and Dr Christopher Maher, described the remarkable evolution of polio surveillance tools from genetic sequencing to data-driven field operations that make eradication more feasible than ever.
From public health leaders to global partners, speakers agreed that the final stretch requires persistence. Professor Shahnaz Ibrahim (Head of Paediatric Neurology AKU and Chair of the National Polio Certification Committee) shared emotional reflections from treating children with polio, calling the virus “terrifying” and urging society not to let fatigue jeopardize decades of progress. Rotary International’s Aziz Memon drew on 40 years of experience to remind the audience that what once seemed impossible is now within reach.
Closing the event, AKU Medical College Dean Dr Karim F. Damji emphasized that meaningful change happens when communities, governments, and global partners work together. He reaffirmed that the last mile demands collective action, compassion, and commitment and that polio eradication is now firmly in sight.
