ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday handed over 20 latest 4x4 vehicles to Pakistan’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to enhance vaccination activities and supervision in geographically challenging areas. The vehicles will be used in 20 top-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 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and at the federal level; and one each for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).The new vehicles, aimed at improving governance oversight and supportive supervision, will support EPI 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. In this connection, a ceremony was held here with Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal as chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, he said that merely waiting for patients to come to hospitals is not the government’s vision instead present government’s mission is to prevent people from falling ill rather than only treating them after they become sick. The minister appreciated the WHO for continued support and 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. 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 Kamal 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. 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. 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. Speaking on the ceremony WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr Luo Dapeng said that WHO was 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, Dr Dapeng said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026