NEOC advances roadmap to eradicate poliovirus
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) on Thursday convened a strategic planning meeting to review progress on Pakistan’s Extended Roadmap to Zero Polio and address remaining challenges in the country’s polio eradication efforts.
The meeting was opened by Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq, who conveyed the Prime Minister’s directions for strengthening the national programme.
NEOC National Coordinator Muhammad Anwar ul Haq led a review of the November subnational polio vaccination campaign, while participants also examined the latest poliovirus surveillance findings to guide future planning and vaccination priorities.
The meeting was attended by members of the NEOC core team and provincial Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) coordinators, including Khalid Parvaiz from Punjab, Sarah Rehman from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Inamul Haq from Balochistan and Shehryar Gul Memon from Sindh.
The provincial coordinators highlighted priority measures to address gaps in vaccination campaign implementation, strengthen routine immunization in high-risk areas and reach children who had repeatedly missed polio vaccination.
They also identified specific support required from the NEOC to accelerate implementation of provincial action plans and improve vaccination coverage.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of coordinated federal and provincial efforts, strengthened surveillance and sustained vaccination activities to achieve the goal of a polio-free Pakistan.
