Japan announces $3.5 million grant to help Pakistan buy polio vaccines

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Japan has pledged $3.5 million in new funding to support Pakistan’s fight against polio, enabling the purchase of over 24 million doses of oral polio vaccine for the 2026 immunization campaign. The announcement underscores Japan’s long-term commitment to Pakistan’s health priorities.

Pakistan remains one of the few countries where polio is still circulating, with 30 cases reported so far in 2025. To stop the spread of this crippling disease, the government has developed the National Emergency Action Plan 2025-26 under the “Roadmap to Zero” initiative, in close collaboration with partners like UNICEF.

Japan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Akamatsu Shiuichi, said protecting children from preventable diseases is one of the most important investments in a country’s future. He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan, UNICEF, and other partners in the shared mission to eradicate polio.

The grant will help the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) purchase and distribute vaccines efficiently. Nahoki Miata, Chief of JICA in Pakistan, praised the government’s firm commitment to ensuring every child gets vaccinated, saying vaccines are one of the most effective ways to protect children and communities.

Prime Minister’s focal person for polio eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, called the support a step closer to a polio-free Pakistan, thanking Japan for its trust in the program and frontline workers.

UNICEF Pakistan representative Pernille Ironside said the grant will help ensure every child, no matter where they live, receives the polio vaccine, strengthening both child protection and the health system.

Japan has been a long-standing partner in Pakistan’s polio fight, providing more than $245 million in grants and loans since 1996, protecting millions of children across the country.