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In Focus
Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s latest report
Highlights surge in transmissions and calls for renewed political commitment and regional planning
On 22 September, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) released the 24th report of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB). The report highlights challenges in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where increased transmission in 2024 has raised concerns about the programme’s trajectory. The IMB highlights the need for sustained political commitment, stronger accountability and high-quality outbreak response efforts. Regional planning, and cross-border collaboration remain critical.
The IMB reports the following as major concerns: Karachi is facing sustained viral circulation, while Lahore continues to report internally linked detections. Central Pakistan has recorded frequent poliovirus presence, and transmission in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is escalating. This region accounted for six of the seven cases reported in the most recent quarter of 2025, with more than 100,000 children unreached due to access limitations and community boycotts. It categorises these as evidence of “resurgence” in one of the last remaining reservoirs of wild poliovirus.
The board challenges earlier claims that transmission was interrupted between 2021 and 2023, attributing the decline not to programme strength but to Covid-19 restrictions that temporarily contained spread.
An editorial in Dawn highlights the longstanding weaknesses in Pakistan’s programme in the light of the recent GPEI report. These include financing mechanisms that reward activity over results, weak integration with routine immunisation, accountability systems focused on reporting over enforcement, and dependence on donor-driven emergency responses rather than sustained domestic leadership. Political commitment has often been rhetorical, while local authorities have struggled to ensure comprehensive coverage.
To address these shortcomings, the IMB recommends shifting oversight from Geneva to the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office. This is intended to challenge perceptions of polio eradication as an externally imposed agenda and to promote local ownership. Community resistance, by conspiracy theories, mistrust, and repeated security threats, continue to remain a barrier. Regionalisation may help rebuild legitimacy, however, meaningful progress depends on domestic political will and effective provincial governance. The upcoming low-transmission season provides an opportunity to accelerate progress, but only if deep rooted practices change, argues Dawn. Innovation, genuine political commitment, and enforceable accountability are critical to breaking the chains of transmission and moving towards global polio eradication. (“The Glass Mountain,” Global Polio Eradication Initiative, 22 September 2025; “Polio mountain,” Dawn, 23 September 2025)
Pakistan and Bangladesh set to formalise MoU linking civil service academies
On 23 September, The News International reported that Bangladesh’s Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and head of the visiting civil services delegation, Nasim-ul-Ghani, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the civil services academies of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Following his address to the probationary officers of the 48th Special Training Programme (STP) at the Pakistan Civil Services Academy in Lahore, he stated that the collaboration was a major step in strengthening institutional ties between the countries and that “Bangladesh stood ready to provide assistance to Pakistan wherever required, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital governance and disaster management,” reports The News International. He noted that although Pakistan and Bangladesh function within different socio-economic settings, both face similar challenges, citing issues such as poverty reduction, disaster management, service delivery, and governance reforms. He stressed that mutual dialogue and the exchange of expertise could help them draw on each other’s strengths, highlighting the example of flood management, where Bangladesh had shared its disaster preparedness strategies with Pakistan during the ongoing visit. Dhaka also expressed interest in learning from Pakistan’s progress in artificial intelligence and administrative reforms. (“Pakistan, Bangladesh to formalise civil service partnership,” The News International, 23 September 2025)
Supreme Court calls for legislation within 45 days to allow civilian appeals against military court rulings
On 23 September, The Express Tribune reported that the Supreme Court had instructed the Parliament and the federal government to pass legislation within 45 days, allowing an independent right of appeal against convictions by military courts. The Court highlighted that the safeguard was key to ensuring “due process and the constitutional right to a fair trial,” reports The Express Tribune. The 45-day deadline is expected to 'cure the defect' and align military justice with constitutional protections. The directive was issued over a set of Intra-Court Appeals (ICAs) heard by a larger bench of the Supreme Court, which challenged the 23 October 2023 judgment in a Constitution Petition and related cases. In the previous ruling, a five-member bench, with a 4-1 majority, had declared certain provisions of the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, unconstitutional and had barred the trial of civilians in military courts following the unrest on 9 and 10 May 2023.
In its current order issued 7 May 2025, the Supreme Court set aside that earlier judgment and reinstated Section 2(1)(d)(i) & (ii) and Section 59(4) of the Army Act. These provisions permit civilians to be prosecuted under military law if they are accused of luring military personnel away from duty or of committing offences connected to defence establishments under the Official Secrets Act of 1923. The court, however, clarified that this power does not amount to unrestricted authority to try civilians in every instance. Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, who authored the 68-page majority judgment, stated that “Although the Army Act includes formal due process protections, the absence of an independent right of appeal to a civilian court makes its application to civilians constitutionally incomplete. The provisions themselves are not unconstitutional, but this gap must be addressed through legislation." The court further underscored that although the rights to peaceful protest and assembly are constitutionally protected, acts of violence, property damage, and assaults on military installations cannot be defended as fundamental freedoms. It was observed that the events in May posed grave risks to national security and warranted a decisive yet lawful response. (“SC gives govt 45 days to allow civilian appeals against military court verdicts,” The Express Tribune, 23 September 2025)
In Brief
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Opposition parties of the Balochistan assembly demand the withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals Act
On 23 September, Dawn reported that a joint meeting of opposition parties in the Balochistan Assembly demanded the withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals Act, 2025. The opposition stated that the act was unconstitutional and against provincial autonomy and ownership rights of the province under the 18th Constitution Amendment. Opposition leader in the Balochistan Assembly, Mir Younis Aziz Zehri, presided over the meeting, with leaders of opposition parties, members of civil society, and leaders of the mine owners’ association in attendance. A parliamentary committee, led by Mr Zehri and comprising ANP leader Zamarak Khan Achakzai, National Party leader Rehmat Saleh Baloch, JI leader Maulana Hidayat-Ur-Rehman, and BNP Mir Jahanzeb Mengal, was formed to present the demands of opposition parties to the chief minister. The participants reaffirmed that the “opposition parties are custodians of public interests and they will oppose any step that undermines public interests,” reports Dawn. (“Balochistan opposition terms mines and minerals law ‘illegal’,” Dawn, 23 September 2025)
CHINA & CPEC
Senate Chairman underscores CPEC initiatives as “a proud chapter in the partnership” at event commemorating the 26th anniversary of the PRC
On 23 September, Dawn reported on Pakistan’s Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani’s address at the Chinese Embassy to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. He highlighted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was also a flagship initiative, describing the Gwadar Port as a gateway of trade and prosperity. Gilani also stated that “Pakistan and China’s military cooperation was a pillar of regional stability and deterrence,” reports Dawn. Praising the Chinese fighter jets, such as the JF-17 Thunder programme and the induction of J-10C fighter jets, he highlighted their role in strengthening Pakistan’s defence preparedness. Gilani also expressed gratitude for China’s support of Pakistan during natural calamities and the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that it symbolised “the depth of brotherhood.” (“Pak-China ties a pillar of stability, says Gilani,” Dawn 23 September 2025)
SOCIETY
New polio case confirmed in Hyderabad district pushing the nationwide toll to 27 cases in 2025
On 23 September, Dawn reported that according to Regional Reference Laboratory’s official at NIH, the lab has confirmed a new polio case in District Hyderabad, Sindh; pushing Pakistan’s total to 27 cases in 2025, and seven in Sindh. He added that there are 18 cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one in Punjab, and one in Gilgit-Baltistan. A nationwide vaccination campaign in September reached approximately 21 million children under five across 88 districts, while a second round is scheduled for 13 October, targeting 45.5 million children through over 400,000 door-to-door vaccinators. These developments coincide with the Independent Monitoring Board’s latest assessment, which described eradication efforts, after nearly four decades and an estimated USD 22 billion in global expenditure, as being at an “inflection point.” The board emphasised that conventional tools are delivering diminishing returns, requiring new strategies and stronger national ownership. (Ikram Junaidi, “Another polio case found in Hyderabad; tally rises to 27,” Dawn, 23 September 2025)
On Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Defence Agreement
“A consensus in which the elite want to use external funds to run the economy” says an article in Dawn
On 23 September, an article in Dawn titled “Elite pact” discussed the recently announced defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The article notes that the signing received public celebration and significant media attention, however, substantive details remain limited. Consequently, scope for a comprehensive analysis is constrained, with doubts centring on operational implications, bilateral commitments, possible targeting of specific states, and the potential for expansion into multilateral frameworks. The article highlights that public enthusiasm in Pakistan reflects longstanding perceptions of Saudi Arabia’s role as a financial benefactor. Riyadh has provided oil on deferred payment and loans to stabilise Pakistan’s reserves. At present, Saudi loans continue to be a major component of Pakistan’s external financing, often rolled over to sustain balance-of-payments stability. Within this dynamic, Pakistan is viewed as contributing military expertise, while Saudi Arabia is expected to extend financial concessions.
The article argues that such assumptions highlight the continuance of an elite consensus. This consensus depends on external financial inflows to manage recurring crises, while legitimising the central role of the military in securing these arrangements and shaping domestic governance. Successive governments have shown this pattern: the PML-N sought relief through CPEC, the PTI emphasised overseas remittances, the 2022 floods led to discussions on climate-related aid, and more recently, the Gulf investment. The underlying theme has been reliance on external resources rather than structural reform. It states that this consensus often sidelines sustainable development priorities, leaving fundamental reforms and development of people unaddressed despite repeated economic vulnerabilities. (Arifa Noor, “Elite pact,” Dawn, 23 September 2025)
On CPEC
“For Pakistan, the Pakistan-China collaboration in the technical skills sector is both an opportunity and a wakeup call,” says an editorial in Dawn
On 23 September, Dawn, in an editorial titled “Beyond the flashlights,” highlighted the opportunities of “transforming vocational training, language education and technical collaboration between the two countries” through CPEC initiatives. It underscored the Pakistan-China Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), an initiative aimed at expanding Mandarin language proficiency across Pakistan, as “opening doors to academic programmes, scholarships and jobs connected with China — jobs in China.” The CPEC’s second phase presents a learning opportunity with 14 major projects from diverse fields, including language training, e-commerce, software technology, drone applications, agriculture, pharmacy, nursing, non-ferrous metallurgy, and intelligent mining, highlights the editorial. The projects are estimated to cost over RMB 21 million annually, and each programme runs for a duration of three to four years.
The customised programmes provide flexible learning options tailored to immediate vocational needs. They also feature jointly developed curricula and professional qualification standards recognised in both countries, with digital learning components designed to ensure accessibility and quality. The editorial highlights that for Pakistan, “the Pakistan-China collaboration in the technical skills sector is both an opportunity and a wakeup call. Our youth must grasp these chances to upgrade skills that align with future economies.” It urges the institutions across the country to embrace the technical and vocational development opportunities offered under CPEC to reap the best benefits from the partnership. (Gulmina Bilal Ahmed, “Beyond the flashlights,” Dawn, 23 September 2025)
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