While striving to ensure each and every child under the age of five is protected against polio, Pakistan’s health authorities demonstrate equal commitment to global effort of a polio free world. The Ministry of Religious affairs along with Provincial Auqaf Departments have set up 10 hajji camps across the country to ensure all 143,368 Pakistani pilgrims heading for hajj in Saudi Arabia this year take the oral doses of the polio vaccine prior to their departure to Saudi Arabia.

As in the past years, all Pakistanis performing pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia are required to be vaccinated against polio. To minimize the risk of international spread of polio during the expected large-scale population movements for the upcoming Hajj, the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has issued health requirements and recommendations for entry visas for Hajj for the year 2013 (1434 H). All travellers from the three remaining endemic countries Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan - regardless of age - must be immunized prior to departure for Saudi Arabia, and will receive an additional dose of oral polio vaccine upon arrival.