Punjab appoints Khalid Parvaiz as new EOC Coordinator for polio eradication

LAHORE: The Punjab Health Department has appointed senior Pakistan Administrative Service officer Khalid Parvaiz as the new Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Polio Eradication, placing him at the centre of the province’s efforts to protect recent gains and push closer towards stopping poliovirus transmission.

Mr Parvaiz has joined the department as Special Secretary Health and will also lead the Punjab EOC, where he will be responsible for coordinating the province-wide polio response with district administrations, health officials, development partners and frontline workers.

His appointment comes at a crucial point for Punjab’s polio programme. According to the department, the province has reported no polio cases so far in 2026, while environmental surveillance has also recorded a significant decline in poliovirus detection.

The progress offers encouragement, but officials say it is not a reason to ease vigilance.

From Punjab to KP and back

Mr Parvaiz brings experience from different levels of government and has previously worked in Punjab’s health administration. He later moved to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he continued working in the health sector.

His return to Punjab is expected to give him a useful understanding of the province’s administrative structure, while his experience in another province could help strengthen coordination and bring a broader perspective to the polio programme.

The new EOC chief will oversee efforts aimed at ensuring that vaccination campaigns reach children who are frequently missed, particularly those belonging to mobile, underserved or hard-to-reach communities.

Punjab has already been conducting large-scale vaccination drives involving thousands of frontline workers. In April, for example, the province targeted more than 23 million children during the second nationwide polio campaign of 2026.

Focus on children who are missed

As EOC Coordinator, Mr Parvaiz will focus on improving the quality of vaccination campaigns, strengthening surveillance and ensuring that operational gaps are quickly identified and addressed.

Particular attention will be given to missed children, transit points and populations on the move, as population mobility can make it difficult for vaccination teams to maintain complete coverage.

The EOC will also work with district administrations to identify areas where children may have been missed during previous campaigns and develop targeted strategies to reach them.

Mr Parvaiz stressed that Punjab’s recent progress must be protected.

“Punjab has made important progress in its fight against polio, but this is not the time for complacency. The goal now is to consolidate these gains and ensure that every child is protected,” he said.

He also highlighted the importance of close coordination between provincial and district authorities, frontline health workers and development partners.

Vigilance remains key

Punjab’s polio programme will continue to rely on environmental surveillance, vaccination campaigns and community engagement to detect and prevent any possible return of the virus.

Authorities also plan to strengthen communication with communities, particularly in areas where misinformation or reluctance could affect vaccination coverage.

The province’s health department has repeatedly emphasised that reaching every eligible child is essential to sustaining progress. During previous campaigns, teams have used mobile, fixed and transit vaccination points to expand their reach.

For Mr Parvaiz, the immediate challenge will be turning Punjab’s encouraging surveillance results into sustained protection.

The message from the new EOC leadership is clear: zero reported cases is a milestone, not the finish line.

With continued vaccination, stronger surveillance, better coordination and community cooperation, Punjab hopes to preserve its gains and move closer to the ultimate goal of a polio-free province.