Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
01/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/13/2026 03:55
PR No. 90 Syed Mustafa Kamal Lauds WHO Partnership in Strengthening Immunization Thro
The World Health Organization (WHO today handed over 20 four-wheel-drive (4x4) vehicles to Pakistan's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to enhance immunization activities and supervision in geographically challenging areas. The 4X4 cars will be assigned to 20 priority districts with a high concentration of children who have never been vaccinated ("zero-dose" children).
With financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the distribution plan allocates three vehicles each for Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan; two each for Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK), Gilgit-Baltistan and at the federal level; and one each for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
Speaking at the ceremony, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said that merely waiting for patients to come to hospitals is not the government's vision. "Our mission is to prevent people from falling ill rather than only treating them after they become sick," he emphasized. He noted that Pakistan's healthcare system is currently facing multiple challenges and becomes overwhelmed when a large number of people fall ill at the same time.
The Minister cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a clear example, stating that even developed countries such as the United States struggled to fully manage the crisis. He shared that nearly 6.2 million children are born in Pakistan every year, and the ecosystem from birth to healthy growth is far from ideal. "Our environment, water systems, and climate have unfortunately turned into factories producing disease," he remarked.
Highlighting the pressure on hospitals, the Minister said that healthcare facilities often resemble large public gatherings due to the overwhelming number of patients. On average, a single doctor attends to around 40 patients per day, while complaints regarding the unavailability of ventilators are received daily. He warned that this situation has now become a national security issue.
Federal Health Minister stressed the urgent need to protect Pakistanis from becoming patients in the first place. "We must move away from a sick-care system and build a true healthcare system in our streets, neighborhoods, provinces, and across the country," he said.
He reaffirmed that the Government of Pakistan is providing free vaccination against 13 deadly diseases and urged the public to place their trust in immunization. He added that the vehicles provided by WHO will play a critical role in delivering vaccines to children in far-flung areas and preventing illness at the community level. "Children who receive vaccines against these thirteen diseases will not need to visit hospitals," he noted.
Citing WHO data, the Minister said that nearly 13 million Pakistanis are pushed below the poverty line due to illness, underscoring the economic impact of poor health. He also highlighted the importance of improving sanitation, drainage systems, and environmental hygiene, along with taking measures to control population growth.
Thanking WHO for its continued support, the Federal Health Minister said that these vehicles will strengthen immunization services and help reduce the burden on major hospitals. He concluded by stating that the present government is taking concrete and practical steps to protect people from disease and to transform Pakistan's health system from a reactive sick-care model to a proactive preventive healthcare system.
The new vehicles, aimed at improving governance oversight and supportive supervision, will support the Expanded Programme on Immunization teams to bridge the gap between urban centers and hard-to-reach populations. The primary goal is to identify and vaccinate "zero-dose" children.
"Reliable transport is essential for effective public health work. These vehicles will enhance regular supervision and resolve logistical issues on-site. WHO remains committed to partnering with Pakistan in strengthening its immunization systems to protect every child from vaccine-preventable diseases. In Pakistan, vaccines are protecting millions of children every year, and WHO will continue to partner with Pakistan and its people to build a healthier future for all," said WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Luo Dapeng.
The initiative follows an analysis that identified the need for health systems strengthening (HSS) in terms of field supportive supervision to improve immunization outcomes in priority areas with geographical barriers.
"This ceremony marks a significant step forward in Pakistan's health systems strengthening. The vehicles you see before us will strengthen our services in our hard-to-reach and security threatened areas, ensuring that vaccines reach all our communities, and that no child is left behind. Let's move forward together with purpose and unity ," said Director General of the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) Dr. Musa Khan. In 1978, Pakistan launched its Expanded Programme on Immunization in partnership with WHO. Since then, every year, over 7 million children and 5.5 million pregnant mothers are protected with life-saving vaccines.
Globally, every ten seconds, vaccination saves a life. In the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved 154 million lives.
With financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the distribution plan allocates three vehicles each for Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan; two each for Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK), Gilgit-Baltistan and at the federal level; and one each for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
Speaking at the ceremony, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said that merely waiting for patients to come to hospitals is not the government's vision. "Our mission is to prevent people from falling ill rather than only treating them after they become sick," he emphasized. He noted that Pakistan's healthcare system is currently facing multiple challenges and becomes overwhelmed when a large number of people fall ill at the same time.
The Minister cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a clear example, stating that even developed countries such as the United States struggled to fully manage the crisis. He shared that nearly 6.2 million children are born in Pakistan every year, and the ecosystem from birth to healthy growth is far from ideal. "Our environment, water systems, and climate have unfortunately turned into factories producing disease," he remarked.
Highlighting the pressure on hospitals, the Minister said that healthcare facilities often resemble large public gatherings due to the overwhelming number of patients. On average, a single doctor attends to around 40 patients per day, while complaints regarding the unavailability of ventilators are received daily. He warned that this situation has now become a national security issue.
Federal Health Minister stressed the urgent need to protect Pakistanis from becoming patients in the first place. "We must move away from a sick-care system and build a true healthcare system in our streets, neighborhoods, provinces, and across the country," he said.
He reaffirmed that the Government of Pakistan is providing free vaccination against 13 deadly diseases and urged the public to place their trust in immunization. He added that the vehicles provided by WHO will play a critical role in delivering vaccines to children in far-flung areas and preventing illness at the community level. "Children who receive vaccines against these thirteen diseases will not need to visit hospitals," he noted.
Citing WHO data, the Minister said that nearly 13 million Pakistanis are pushed below the poverty line due to illness, underscoring the economic impact of poor health. He also highlighted the importance of improving sanitation, drainage systems, and environmental hygiene, along with taking measures to control population growth.
Thanking WHO for its continued support, the Federal Health Minister said that these vehicles will strengthen immunization services and help reduce the burden on major hospitals. He concluded by stating that the present government is taking concrete and practical steps to protect people from disease and to transform Pakistan's health system from a reactive sick-care model to a proactive preventive healthcare system.
The new vehicles, aimed at improving governance oversight and supportive supervision, will support the Expanded Programme on Immunization teams to bridge the gap between urban centers and hard-to-reach populations. The primary goal is to identify and vaccinate "zero-dose" children.
"Reliable transport is essential for effective public health work. These vehicles will enhance regular supervision and resolve logistical issues on-site. WHO remains committed to partnering with Pakistan in strengthening its immunization systems to protect every child from vaccine-preventable diseases. In Pakistan, vaccines are protecting millions of children every year, and WHO will continue to partner with Pakistan and its people to build a healthier future for all," said WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Luo Dapeng.
The initiative follows an analysis that identified the need for health systems strengthening (HSS) in terms of field supportive supervision to improve immunization outcomes in priority areas with geographical barriers.
"This ceremony marks a significant step forward in Pakistan's health systems strengthening. The vehicles you see before us will strengthen our services in our hard-to-reach and security threatened areas, ensuring that vaccines reach all our communities, and that no child is left behind. Let's move forward together with purpose and unity ," said Director General of the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) Dr. Musa Khan. In 1978, Pakistan launched its Expanded Programme on Immunization in partnership with WHO. Since then, every year, over 7 million children and 5.5 million pregnant mothers are protected with life-saving vaccines.
Globally, every ten seconds, vaccination saves a life. In the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved 154 million lives.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan published this content on January 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 13, 2026 at 09:55 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]