The global fight against polio faces a significant setback as Pakistan reports a troubling rise in cases, with 12 new infections recorded in the first half of 2025—double the number from 2022. This resurgence highlights the challenges posed by government mismanagement and vaccine opposition from Islamic hardliners.

Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the last strongholds of wild poliovirus transmission, despite the disease being eradicated in Africa by 2020. “We’ve snatched defeat from the jaws of victory,” lamented Zulfiqar Bhutta, Director of Research at Toronto’s Centre for Global Child Health, emphasizing how the virus has spread to all districts of Pakistan.

The situation has grown so dire that countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt now require polio vaccination certificates from Pakistani travelers. Health experts attribute the resurgence to deep-seated mistrust fueled by religious misconceptions and social media misinformation. “Local beliefs and historical grievances against the healthcare system create vaccine hesitancy,” explained researcher Erum Siddiqui from Jinnah Sindh Medical University.

Vaccination efforts face violent opposition, with health workers frequently targeted by militants. Ahmad Bhittani, a former vaccinator, shared his fear: “I can’t even visit my home village anymore—they might shoot me for my past work.” Journalist Sameen Daud Khan criticized the government’s reactive security measures and logistical failures in vulnerable regions.

A damning report co-authored by Bhutta cites “variable governance and weak management” as primary reasons for Pakistan’s polio eradication failures. UNICEF warns that children remain at risk as long as the virus circulates, while journalist Zubeida Mustafa stresses that eradication requires stronger political will. “The authorities responsible for public health aren’t doing their job,” she stated bluntly.

The consequences extend beyond Pakistan’s borders. As Khan warned: “Being one of the last reservoirs of wild poliovirus, Pakistan’s failures threaten global eradication efforts, risking the progress made against this debilitating disease.”