WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr Luo Dapeng, and the Federal Health Minister, Syed Mustafa Kamal, hand over vehicles to enhance Immunization activities to provincial authorities. Photo credit: Hamid Inam/ WHO Pakistan
14 January 2026, Islamabad, Pakistan – 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 3 vehicles each for Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan; 2 each for Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and at the federal level; and 1 each for the Capital Development Authority and Islamabad Capital Territory.
The vehicles will address transport shortages that have previously hindered immunization performance in high-risk districts – particularly in remote areas – improving the managers’ mobility to supervise field activities directly, verify micro-plans, and ensure that vaccines are available even in the most distant communities.
“We are thankful to WHO and Gavi for this support. Our ecosystem currently faces significant challenges regarding water, sanitation, and health infrastructure, putting the health of our population at large at risk. To effectively reduce the burden of disease, it is vital that we ensure our children are vaccinated against 13 vaccine-preventable diseases. We must prioritize immunization because, ultimately, prevention is better than cure. These vehicles are to reach out to zero-dose children here in Pakistan, underprivileged people and those who do not have awareness,” said Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal at the handover ceremony.
The new vehicles will help improve governance oversight and the supportive supervision of immunization teams, reinforcing their ability to bridge the gap between urban centres 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 the ability to 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 a need to strengthen field 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 the Director-General of the Federal Directorate of Immunization, Dr Musa Khan.
In 1978, Pakistan launched its Expanded Programme on Immunization in partnership with WHO. Since then, every year, up to 7 million children and 5.5 million pregnant women have been protected with life-saving vaccines.
Globally, every 10 seconds, vaccination saves a life. In the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved 154 million lives.
For additional information, please contact:
- José Ignacio Martín Galán, Head of Communications, WHO Pakistan:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Maryam Yunus, National Professional Officer – Communications, WHO Pakistan:
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About WHO
Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. We work with 194 Member States across more than 150 locations to ensure everyone, everywhere, can attain the highest level of health. WHO has been active in Pakistan since 1960. For more information, visit https://www.emro.who.int/countries/pak/index.html.
