Japan announces new grant of $3.5 million for Pakistan to purchase polio vaccine

The Government of Japan, continuing its support for Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts, has announced a new grant of $3.5 million for the purchase of essential oral polio vaccine.

According to the announcement, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) will use these funds to purchase more than 24 million doses of the vaccine for the polio campaign in 2026.

Pakistan is one of the two countries in the world that has not yet been able to stop the transmission of the polio virus and 30 cases of polio have been reported in Pakistan so far in 2025. It was informed that in an urgent effort to eliminate the incurable disease, the Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with partners, has prepared the National Emergency Action Plan 2025-26 under the Roadmap to Zero, which aims to stop the transmission of polio throughout the country.

Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Akamitsu Shiochi reiterated Japan’s long-term commitment to Pakistan’s health priorities, saying that Japan believes that protecting children from preventable diseases is the most important investment in a country’s future.

He said that through this collaboration, we renew our commitment to stand with Pakistan, UNICEF and all partners who continue to work tirelessly towards our common goal of eradicating polio.

Japan’s new grant will provide critical funding to PEI for the purchase and delivery of polio vaccines, and Naoki Miyata, Chief of JAHICA in Pakistan, commended these efforts, praising the Government of Pakistan’s strong commitment to ensuring that every child receives the necessary polio vaccine.

He said that vaccines are one of the most effective ways to protect children and communities, and we are confident that this support will be used effectively through the dedication of frontline workers and the involvement of parents and communities.

Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said that eradicating polio from the country is our shared goal and with Japan’s support, every dose of vaccine brings us closer to a polio-free Pakistan.

She said that we are deeply grateful for Japan’s continued trust in our program and our frontline workers.

UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernell Ironside said that Japan’s support continues to play a critical role in Pakistan’s progress towards polio eradication.

She said that this support will help ensure that every child, no matter where they live, receives the polio vaccine and we value Japan’s partnership with UNICEF, the Government of Pakistan and communities across the country to protect children, strengthen health systems and build a polio-free future.

The Government of Japan is a long-standing partner in Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts, and since 1996, Japan has provided more than US$245 million in grants and loans to protect millions of children across Pakistan through UNICEF.