The World Health Organization has placed Pakistan among the top five nations that have significantly reduced child mortality, highlighting the country’s sustained immunisation efforts. According to a report released on Thursday, vaccination campaigns have saved approximately 2.6 million children from preventable diseases.
The report noted that diseases such as smallpox have been fully eradicated in Pakistan due to widespread vaccination, while polio cases have declined by 99.8 percent over the years. Additionally, newborn tetanus has been eliminated in nearly 80 percent of the country. These achievements come as the world observes World Immunization Week from April 24 to May 1.
Furthermore, the WHO stated that Pakistan successfully eradicated smallpox in 1976 and subsequently launched the Expanded Programme on Immunization, which has played a key role in reducing mortality rates. As a result, vaccination programmes have protected the lives of around 160 million children and 130 million mothers nationwide.
The report also highlighted the dramatic reduction in polio cases, which dropped from nearly 20,000 in 1996 to just 31 reported cases in 2025. This progress reflects consistent nationwide immunisation drives and coordinated public health strategies.
Moreover, Pakistan currently provides free vaccines against 13 diseases, ensuring broader access to essential healthcare. With support from Gavi, approximately 7 million children and 5.5 million women receive vaccinations each year.
At the same time, nearly 45 million children are administered polio vaccines through the efforts of around 15,000 vaccinators and over 400,000 frontline workers, making it one of the largest public health workforces globally.
