ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday stressed the need for effective supervision to prevent the return of trachoma to Pakistan after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the disease was no longer a public health problem in the South Asian country.
Trachoma is a disease of the eye caused by infection with the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium and can result in irreversible blindness if left untreated. Pakistan is the 19th country globally to reach this historic milestone, according to the WHO.
Speaking at a ceremony held with regard to trachoma’s elimination, PM Sharif said it was a “very fortunate day” in the history of Pakistan.
“It is hoped that this disease will never return to Pakistan,” he said in televised comments. “For this, we will always have to keep in place whatever preventive measures are there, and keep a very effective supervision and check and balance.”
The WHO earlier said Pakistan’s success in eliminating trachoma underscored the government’s political commitment to public health, the value of WHO technical support and the incredible contributions of health professionals, endemic communities, civil society and partners.
“The achievement is a significant marker in the global fight against preventable diseases and their elimination,” it said.
In 1997, Pakistan became the first country to be certified free of dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) transmission, according to the WHO. Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem adds to this legacy.
The world health body said Pakistan’s successful elimination of trachoma as a public health problem served as a powerful reminder that the control, elimination and eradication of many neglected tropical diseases was an attainable goal.
In a statement, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the elimination of the disease as a “monumental achievement” for Pakistan.
“This milestone is a testament to the unwavering dedication of Pakistan’s health workers, including many working at community level,” Ghebreyesus said.
“It underscores the power of collective action, innovative thinking and a shared commitment to a healthier future for all. I commend Pakistan for its dedication and success in safeguarding the vision of millions.”
WHO says trachoma blinding disease no longer ‘public health problem’ in Pakistan
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WHO says trachoma blinding disease no longer ‘public health problem’ in Pakistan
- Trachoma is an eye disease caused by infection with Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium
- The infection can result in irreversible blindness if it is left untreated, the WHO says
Pakistan vaccinates over 13.6 million children on first day of nationwide anti-polio campaign
- Pakistan launched week-long nationwide campaign to vaccinate over 45 million children on Monday
- Health workers vaccinate over 7 million children in Punjab, three million in Sindh and 2.2 million in KP provinces
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani health workers vaccinated over13.6 million children on the first day of the nationwide anti-polio campaign, the National Emergency Operations (NEOC) said in a statement on Tuesday.
Pakistan launched the Feb. 2-8 campaign, the first of this year, in the country’s Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (KP) areas on Monday. The campaign will target over 45 million children in the territories.
“Over 13.6 million children vaccinated nationwide on the first day of the campaign,” the NEOC said in a statement, adding that over 7.3 million children were vaccinated in the eastern Punjab province.
Over 3 million children were vaccinated in Sindh, 2.275 million in KP, 559,000 in the southwestern Balochistan province, 82,000 in GB and 233,000 in Azad Kashmir.
“Polio is an incurable disease that can cause lifelong disability in children,” the NEOC said. “Parents urged to open their doors to polio workers and ensure their children receive polio drops.”
Eliminating poliovirus remains a critical health initiative of Pakistan, which along with Afghanistan, is one of only two countries worldwide where the virus is endemic. Pakistan reported 31 cases of polio in 2025, which authorities say is a significant decline from the alarming 74 cases of the disease it reported in 2024.
Polio workers and their security escorts have repeatedly been targeted in militant attacks, particularly in parts of Pakistan’s KP and Balochistan provinces, complicating efforts to vaccinate children in remote areas.
A gun attack targeting a polio vaccination team in the northwestern Bajaur district in December 2025 left one police constable and a civilian dead.
Natural disasters, such as floods, have also disrupted vaccination campaigns in recent years.
