Polio frontline workers get 28pc stipend increase

By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD --The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) today announced a 28% increase in the daily stipend for over 400,000 campaign-based frontline workers ahead of the next sub-national campaign, scheduled for September 21–27, 2026.

During the upcoming drive, vaccination teams will reach more than 31 million children across 115 districts in Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister's Focal Person (PMFP) for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, the PEI has been strengthening its support for the frontline workforce delivering polio vaccines across the country.

The 28% increase follows a series of Frontline Worker Listening Sessions held nationwide, giving vaccinators and other personnel an opportunity to engage directly with PEI leadership and share their experiences, challenges and recommendations from the field.

The Country Programme is also taking broader steps to strengthen support for frontline workers, including measures to enhance their security, protect their dignity and well-being, and recognize the vital contribution they make to Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.

This includes upgrading Frontline Worker Support Centres with basic amenities in select geographies, issuing ID cards to frontline workers, and developing operational safety guidelines to help ensure their safety while in the field.

"Our frontline workers are at the heart of Pakistan's progress towards a polio-free future. Day after day, they go above and beyond to reach every child and support communities across the country, often working in challenging environments," said Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, PMFP for Polio Eradication.

"The 28% increase in the daily stipend is an important step in recognizing their dedication and contribution to our eradication efforts. We are committed to ensuring that every frontline worker feels safe, respected, valued and supported as they carry out this vital work," she added.

Thanks to the hard work of polio frontline workers, Pakistan has made significant progress in reducing polio cases by 99.8%, from an estimated 20,000 cases in the early 1990s to 31 in 2025, and 3 so far in 2026. This progress reflects the positive impact of evidence-based, data-driven strategies, high-quality vaccination campaigns, collaboration with the Expanded Programme on Immunization, and strong disease surveillance — all supported by the dedication of vaccinators and campaign personnel across the country.

As Pakistan prepares for the September campaign, the PEI urges parents and caregivers to welcome frontline teams into their homes and ensure that every child under five receives two drops of the oral polio vaccine, which is safe and effective.

The PEI also calls on communities, religious leaders, civil society and other stakeholders to support and respect vaccination teams and to help create an environment in which they can safely and effectively reach every child.

The PEI remains committed to strengthening the support, protection and recognition of the frontline workforce that is central to Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts. The increase in the campaign-based daily stipend ahead of the September campaign is an important step in recognising their contribution and ensuring they are better supported as they work to reach every child.

The PEI also acknowledges and thanks the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners for their continued support to Pakistan’s polio eradication programme and efforts to strengthen the frontline workforce. Together, these efforts are helping sustain progress towards a polio-free Pakistan.