Islamabad, October 24, 2025: On World Polio Day, First Lady of Pakistan Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed the nation’s unwavering commitment to eliminating polio and ensuring that every child is protected from preventable diseases. Addressing the occasion, she stressed that while Pakistan has made remarkable progress in the fight against polio, the journey toward complete eradication remains unfinished.
The First Lady highlighted that the few remaining cases of polio serve as a sobering reminder that the struggle is not just a public health issue but a shared national responsibility. “Each child missed is a child at risk,” she said, urging health workers, policymakers, and communities to intensify their efforts to reach every home with the life-saving polio vaccine. Her remarks underscored the importance of vigilance and sustained commitment to ensure Pakistan becomes completely polio-free in the near future.
Recalling the vision and leadership of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who launched Pakistan’s first nationwide polio eradication campaign in 1994, Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari said her mother’s mission continues to inspire and guide national health efforts. The Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari polio campaign, she said, is deeply personal — not just as a national cause but as part of her own family’s legacy of service to the people.
She shared a heartfelt memory from her childhood, noting that Pakistan’s historic anti-polio drive was inaugurated when her mother, the then Prime Minister, personally administered the country’s first-ever polio drops to her. “That moment,” she reflected, “marked the beginning of a national journey that I feel deeply connected to — one that I have pledged to continue until every Pakistani child is safe from polio.”
In her message, the First Lady expressed profound gratitude to the thousands of health workers, vaccinators, and security personnel who serve selflessly on the frontlines of Pakistan’s polio eradication campaign. She particularly commended the women vaccinators who travel to remote and difficult terrains, often at personal risk, to make sure no child is left unvaccinated.
“These women are the real heroes of Pakistan’s fight against polio,” she said, adding that the Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari polio initiative would continue to honour their contributions and support their efforts. She also paid tribute to those who had lost their lives in the line of duty, saying their courage and sacrifice have brought the country closer to achieving the dream of a polio-free Pakistan.
Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari urged parents, caregivers, and community leaders to play their role by ensuring their children receive the polio vaccine during every campaign. She emphasized that public cooperation is vital to achieving and sustaining eradication goals. “With collective effort and care, Pakistan can secure a future free from polio — a future we owe to our next generation,” she said.
She also reiterated the importance of public awareness campaigns, saying that dispelling myths and misinformation about vaccines is crucial to achieving full coverage. The First Lady noted that Pakistan’s national immunization drive has benefited from increased global support and coordination with organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, but sustained domestic ownership remains essential to success.
Reaffirming her long-term commitment, Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari pledged continued advocacy for children’s health and wellbeing. She said her vision aligns with her mother’s dream of a strong, healthy, and progressive Pakistan where every child has access to life-saving vaccines and equal opportunities to thrive.
“Polio eradication is not just about ending a disease — it is about securing the health and dignity of every child in Pakistan,” she concluded. The First Lady called on all citizens to stay united, vigilant, and compassionate until the country achieves complete eradication.
