ISLAMABAD, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that his country is committed to eradicating polio through a nationwide effort and a comprehensive strategy designed to eliminate the virus completely.

Speaking at the launch ceremony of a week-long national polio vaccination campaign, Sharif said that the government is actively pursuing an integrated and robust strategy to curb the disease.

"Polio is not just a threat to children, but a danger to the entire society," he said, urging parents, teachers, religious leaders, media, civil society, and citizens to contribute to the national cause.

The campaign, running from April 21 to April 27, aims to immunize millions of children under the age of five across Pakistan.

Sharif inaugurated the drive by administering oral polio vaccine drops to children, marking the start of the country's second national anti-polio campaign this year.

He also expressed gratitude to frontline health workers, volunteers, and field staff for their tireless efforts, which he said have led to a notable decline in polio cases.

Pakistan remains one of the few countries in the world where polio is still endemic, though recent efforts have significantly reduced the number of reported cases. ■