Karachi Steps Up Polio Drive Operations as Sargodha Nears Target in Nationwide Campaign

Overview

• In Karachi, officials reported 864,000 children under five received polio drops over two days in a review chaired by Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi.
• Of 34,000 children previously marked as refusals in the city, 11,000 were vaccinated during the period, reflecting 30% uptake.
• Deputy commissioners were directed to meet remaining targets before the campaign ends, with support teams activated and vaccination hours enforced.
• A post-campaign catch-up plan will reach missed children, with community leaders engaged and those who were ill to be vaccinated after medical consultation.
• Separately, Sargodha closed its Oct 13–16 drive with more than 686,000 children reached, achieving 97% of a 709,000 target, while Gujrat officials reviewed catch-up efforts with health partners including a WHO representative.