Federal Minister for Health, Mustafa Kamal, revealed on Saturday that over 44,000 parents across Pakistan have refused to administer polio drops to their children, with the highest number of refusals recorded in Karachi.

Speaking to media in Karachi, Kamal disclosed that of the total, 34,000 refusals were reported in Karachi alone. He further highlighted that in Karachi’s Eastern District, 27,000 parents declined to have their children vaccinated against polio.

The minister announced that a nationwide anti-polio campaign will commence on April 21, and urged all citizens to cooperate for the greater national good.

“There is an option to register cases and make arrests for non-cooperation, but I do not want to go down that path,” Kamal stated, emphasizing the importance of public awareness over punitive action.

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Mustafa Kamal warned that Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio still exists, and failure to participate in eradication efforts would make one “a national offender.”

The alarming number of refusals, particularly in urban centers like Karachi, poses a serious challenge to the country’s efforts to eliminate the crippling disease. The government aims to use the upcoming campaign to reach unvaccinated children and push Pakistan closer to being declared polio-free.

Health officials continue to appeal to parents and community leaders to support the drive and protect future generations from the threat of polio.