Pakistan has been ranked among the top five countries globally for reducing child mortality, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which credited the country’s long-running vaccination programmes for saving millions of young lives.
In its latest assessment, the WHO said Pakistan’s immunisation efforts have saved approximately 2.6 million children from dying due to preventable diseases, highlighting vaccination as one of the country’s most effective public health interventions.
Decades of immunisation progress
The WHO noted that Pakistan launched its national vaccination programme in 1976, beginning with the elimination of smallpox. Since then, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has played a central role in reducing child deaths and controlling infectious diseases nationwide.
Today, vaccines are provided free of cost against 13 diseases across the country. According to the WHO, the programme has become one of Pakistan’s most important and impactful public health tools, particularly for children and mothers.
Smallpox eradicated, polio nearly eliminated
The WHO confirmed that smallpox has been completely eradicated in Pakistan due to vaccination. It also reported that polio cases have fallen by 99.8 percent, marking one of the country’s biggest public health achievements.
According to the report, Pakistan recorded around 20,000 polio cases in 1996, a figure that has dropped dramatically by 2025 as a result of sustained immunisation campaigns. The WHO said around 45 million children are currently vaccinated against polio.
Tetanus protection expands nationwide
The report added that newborns in 80 percent of Pakistan’s areas are now protected from tetanus.
Regions including Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan have been officially confirmed as tetanus-free, reflecting major progress in routine immunisation and maternal and newborn health protection.
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Gavi-supported vaccination efforts
With support from Gavi, Pakistan vaccinates around seven million children and 5.5 million women every year, according to the WHO.
These large-scale immunisation drives have helped expand protection against multiple life-threatening diseases and improved access to vaccines for vulnerable communities.
Vaccines save millions worldwide
The WHO also highlighted the broader global impact of immunisation, stating that vaccines have saved the lives of 160 million children worldwide so far.
In addition, the organisation said vaccines have also saved around 130 million mothers, underlining the critical role of immunisation in both child survival and maternal health.
Pakistan’s polio campaign among the world’s largest
The WHO described Pakistan’s anti-polio drive as one of the largest vaccination campaigns in the world.
According to the report, the effort involves around 15,000 vaccinators and more than 400,000 frontline workers, reflecting the scale and importance of immunisation within Pakistan’s public health strategy.
A major public health milestone
The WHO said Pakistan’s placement among the top five countries for reducing child mortality underscores the long-term impact of sustained vaccination policies, community outreach, and international support.
Despite ongoing challenges, the organisation noted that Pakistan’s immunisation system continues to play a central role in protecting children, preventing outbreaks, and strengthening national health outcomes.
