ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly has approved new legislation introducing stricter measures to support Pakistan’s polio eradication campaign, including fines for parents or guardians who refuse polio vaccination for children.
Under the new law, refusal to administer polio drops will carry a fine of Rs50,000 for a first offence and Rs100,000 for a second violation. The legislation also makes it mandatory for children under the age of 10 to receive all required doses of the polio vaccine.
The law requires parents and guardians to obtain a polio vaccination certificate through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). Authorities said certificates would not be issued in cases where vaccination is deliberately refused.
Educational institutions will also be required to ask for polio vaccination certificates for children below the age of 10 as part of enrollment and verification procedures.
National strategy and security measures
The legislation includes provisions for a five-year national polio eradication strategy for Islamabad, as Pakistan remains one of the two countries where the wild poliovirus is still endemic.
The federal government will also introduce additional security measures for frontline polio workers, particularly in high-risk areas. According to the approved law, threats, intimidation or attacks against polio teams could lead to up to seven years in prison along with financial penalties.
A special support fund will be established for frontline workers involved in anti-polio campaigns, while another bill related to the rehabilitation of polio victims was also passed.
Official procedures linked to vaccination certificate
Under the new framework, individuals without a valid polio vaccination certificate may face restrictions in certain official matters. The law further states that cases related to polio vaccination will be heard only by District and Sessions Judges.
Pakistan has continued nationwide vaccination drives in recent years as health authorities seek to eliminate the virus through expanded immunization coverage and public awareness campaigns.
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