KARACHI: “The medical community cannot sit idly by while the future of our children is being compromised by administrative incompetence and inaccurate reporting,” said Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Secretary General Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro as the association expressed deep shock and concern over recent findings by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which have identified Karachi as a critical hub for poliovirus transmission.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the PMA said that despite billions of rupees spent on eradication efforts, Karachi continues to remain a “core reservoir” of the poliovirus. It said that while official data repeatedly claims vaccination coverage of over 95 percent, independent and external assessments have revealed that actual coverage is significantly lower.
The association pointed out that sewage samples collected from Karachi and Hyderabad blocks have shown nearly 90 percent positivity for poliovirus — the highest level recorded in the past decade.
Dr. Shoro said the persistence of the virus is not a failure of science but a consequence of administrative negligence and systemic weaknesses. He alleged that vaccination data is being falsified, noting that reported coverage exceeding 100 percent in certain areas is scientifically impossible and reflects deliberate attempts to conceal operational shortcomings.
The PMA also expressed concern over what it termed “silent refusals,” stating that pressure-driven tactics, including the use of police force, have eroded public trust. As a result, many parents avoid vaccination without formally refusing. It added that thousands of children remain unvaccinated not due to parental resistance, but because vaccination teams fail to reach them owing to poor micro-planning and weak supervision.
Demanding immediate corrective measures, the PMA called on the government to launch an independent investigation into alleged data manipulation and the misappropriation of funds meant for frontline polio workers. The association stressed that accountability must extend beyond frontline staff to district and provincial authorities responsible for planning, monitoring, and oversight.
The PMA urged a shift from a pressure-based strategy to a trust-based approach by involving local doctors, healthcare providers, and community leaders to counter vaccine hesitancy. It also demanded a complete restructuring of the Polio Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to ensure technical expertise and merit-based appointments.
Warning of serious consequences, the PMA said international agencies have cautioned Pakistan about possible travel restrictions if poliovirus transmission is not interrupted by 2026. The association warned that failure to address these systemic flaws could push Pakistan toward global isolation and permanent polio endemic status.
