Japan Announces $4.3 Million Grant to Strengthen Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Efforts.

ISLAMABAD: The Government of Japan has announced a new grant of $4.3 million to strengthen Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts and support the procurement of essential polio vaccines.
According to a statement issued by the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) will use the funding to procure more than 28 million doses of polio vaccine for the country’s immunization campaigns in 2027.
Pakistan is among the only two countries in the world where the poliovirus remains endemic. However, the country has witnessed a significant decline in reported cases. Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases in 2024, which decreased to 31 in 2025, while eight cases have been reported so far in 2026. Of these, six cases were reported in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security concerns and access-related challenges continue to make vaccination efforts difficult.
With the support of international partners, the Government of Pakistan has developed the National Emergency Action Plan 2026–27 under the "Roadmap to Zero", aiming to completely eradicate poliovirus from the country by the end of 2027.
During each nationwide polio vaccination campaign, more than 45 million children under the age of five are targeted for immunization, with over 400,000 frontline health workers playing a vital role in reaching children across the country.
On the occasion, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their continued support. She stated that Japan’s financial assistance comes at a crucial time as Pakistan intensifies its efforts to eliminate poliovirus, adding that every vaccine dose provided through Japan’s support brings the country closer to achieving a polio-free Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s healthcare priorities. He noted that Japan has been consistently supporting polio eradication efforts in Pakistan since 1996, in collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners.
He further stated that the increased grant compared to the previous year reflects Japan’s firm commitment to the shared goal of completely eradicating polio from Pakistan by the end of 2027.