The World Health Organization (WHO) has extended conditional international travel restrictions on Pakistan for another three months, due to ongoing concerns about the transmission of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), ARY News reported.
The decision was made during the 42nd meeting of the WHO Emergency Committee on Polio, which took place virtually on June 18. The session brought together officials from polio-affected countries and focused on the continued international spread of WPV1, with Pakistan and Afghanistan identified as key sources of transmission.
The WHO highlighted that cross-border movement remains a major driver of WPV1 spread, particularly in high-risk regions such as southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Quetta Block, southern Afghanistan, Karachi, and Peshawar—areas where the virus remains entrenched.
In its statement, the WHO noted that the movement of displaced populations and travelers across borders contributes significantly to the spread of the virus. It also expressed concern over an increase in polio-positive environmental samples from across Pakistan, indicating sustained transmission. Key provinces including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, and central Pakistan continue to be polio hotspots, with Karachi, Peshawar, and the Quetta Block being especially affected.
Further alarm was raised over a recently confirmed polio case in Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as a rising number of children missing routine immunizations, complicating the country’s eradication efforts.
While acknowledging that the global goal to eradicate polio by 2025 may be missed under current conditions, the WHO praised Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to combat the virus. The organization expressed confidence in the country’s vaccination campaigns and commended the commitment shown by Pakistan’s Prime Minister and the health authorities at both provincial and national levels.
The WHO also called for continued cross-border collaboration between Pakistan and Afghanistan, urging both nations to sustain joint vaccination campaigns and reinforce disease surveillance efforts.
During the next three months, Pakistan will continue to enforce mandatory polio vaccinations for all outbound international travelers. The WHO will monitor progress and review the situation at the end of this period to determine the next steps.
