World Polio Day: Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari Reaffirms Pledge for Polio-Free Pakistan

Islamabad: First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a polio-free country on World Polio Day. In her message released on Friday, she paid tribute to the frontline women vaccinators and the security personnel who protect them.
Remembering Benazir’s campaign
Aseefa recalled that her mother, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, launched Pakistan’s first nationwide polio campaign in 1994 — and that she herself received the campaign’s first drops. She said the mission remains unfinished, and reaching every child with the drops is a shared responsibility. The First Lady urged parents to welcome polio teams warmly and make sure their children receive the drops.
Rotary’s $3 billion-plus support
Rotary International President Olayinka Hakeem Babalola also renewed the pledge to end polio. According to Rotary, the organisation has contributed more than $3 billion to the global fight against polio, including over $1.3 million from Pakistani members. He said Rotary’s support has protected more than 45 million children worldwide, and Africa’s certification as polio-free in 2020 proves the disease can be defeated.
Polio cases are still being reported in Pakistan, which is why health experts insist no child should be left out of the vaccination drives.