Islamabad, 15 September 2025 – The Government of Pakistan’s Federal Directorate for Immunization (FDI) in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), today launched the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer in later stages of their lives. This marks a major leap forward in strengthening women’s health and advancing Pakistan’s commitment to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030.
The HPV vaccination campaign will target girls aged 9–14 years across Punjab, Sindh, Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, and Islamabad Capital Territory in the first phase, beginning on 15 September 2025. The goal is to vaccinate at least 90% of 13 million eligible girls during this campaign and integrate the vaccine into routine immunization for 9-year-old girls in subsequent years.
Speaking at the launch, the Federal Minister for Health, Syed Mustafa Kamal, said that the Government is fully committed to protecting young girls from cervical cancer through preventive measures. “This vaccination drive for girls aged 9 to 14 years is an important step towards safeguarding their future health,” he stated.
Appealing directly to parents, the Minister said, “I urge all parents to ensure their daughters and sisters are vaccinated. Sadly, there is false propaganda being spread about this vaccine which has no basis in reality. Do not fall prey to negative campaigns. This vaccine is safe, effective, and essential for protecting our girls.”
He added that ensuring a healthier future for daughters is a shared responsibility, “Every mother should prioritize her daughter’s health and life. Our duty is to raise awareness, and we are fully committed to it.”
The HPV Vaccination Campaign will be conducted at fixed centers, outreach, schools and through mobile/special vaccination teams. Outreach vaccination sites will be established in distant areas and special vaccination teams will be deployed to reach high-risk and underserved populations. The HPV vaccine will be available for free for all eligible girls.
“A single dose of the HPV vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer. Yet every two minutes, a woman loses her life to this disease, including thousands in Pakistan each year,” said Thabani Maphosa, Chief Country Delivery Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “Thanks to the leadership of the Government of Pakistan and the commitment of our partners, we now have the chance to reshape the future of women’s health in the country, giving millions of girls the power to protect their lives and pursue their dreams.”
Over 60 million girls across the world have been vaccinated against HPV with Gavi support to date. Today’s vaccine introduction will build on this progress and contribute towards the Alliance’s goal of reaching 86 million girls living in lower-income countries by the end of 2025, helping to prevent over 1.4 million future deaths from cervical cancer.
“Today marks a historic step for Pakistan’s girls and young women. The HPV vaccine can protect millions of women of tomorrow from a preventable and life-threatening disease by vaccinating the girls of today and giving them the chance to grow, learn, and thrive without the fear of cervical cancer. UNICEF is proud to work with the Government of Pakistan and alongside our partners WHO and Gavi for the health of future generations,” said Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan.
“In Pakistan, we lose 8 women every day due to cervical cancer. WHO is proud to work with Pakistan, and partners like Gavi and UNICEF, to protect 13 million of girls from cervical cancer by introducing the human papillomavirus vaccine this September, and to protect over 17 million by 2027. The HPV vaccine, prequalified by WHO, is a safe, science-based and effective protection against cervical cancer, with a long history of saving lives in over 150 countries, including Muslim countries. Providing this vaccine is investing in a healthier future for every girl, for their future families, and for the entire nation,” said WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Dapeng Luo.
Mild side effects such as pain in the injected part of the body or a low fever may occur, similar to other vaccines.
Parents, teachers, and community leaders are urged to ensure all eligible girls are vaccinated to protect them from cervical cancer for a healthier future.
Notes to Editors
About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. View the full list of donor governments and other leading organisations that fund Gavi’s work here.
Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunise a whole generation – over 1.1 billion children – and prevented more than 18.8 million future deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 78 lower‑income countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningococcal and yellow fever vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation, above all the zero-dose children who have not received even a single vaccine shot. The Vaccine Alliance employs innovative finance and the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF’s work in Pakistan, visit: https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/
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 in 150+ locations – so everyone, everywhere, can attain the highest level of health. For more information, visit https://www.emro.who.int/countries/pak/index.html. Follow WHO Pakistan on Twitter and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Cirũ Kariũki, Gavi
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Meg Sharafudeen, Gavi
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Karen Reidy, UNICEF Pakistan
+92 203 828 4385
kreidy@unicef.org
Abdul Sami Malik, UNICEF Pakistan
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Dr José Ignacio Martín Galán, WHO Pakistan
Head of Communications
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