**WHO Donates Motorcycles to Boost Vaccination Efforts in Priority Punjab Districts**
The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided 200 motorcycles to support the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Punjab, aiming to enhance outreach and coverage in districts identified with high numbers of unvaccinated children. The distribution of motorcycles is expected to significantly strengthen immunization services, particularly in underserved communities across the province.
Punjab Minister for Health & Population, Khawaja Imran Nazir, officially handed over the motorcycles to EPI vaccinators in Lahore at a ceremony held at the Directorate General Health Services Punjab. The vehicles, supplied by WHO-Pakistan, are part of a collaborative effort to improve the mobility of health workers and ensure vaccines reach the most vulnerable populations.
Key officials attended the event, including Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Khalil Ahmed Sikhani, EPI Director Health Services Lahore Dr. Samra Khurram, Head of WHO Sub Office Punjab Dr. Jamshaid Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Technical) Health & Population Department Dr. Zohaib Hassan, UNICEF Immunization Officer Dr. Khurram Mubeen, and several technical officers from WHO and EPI Lahore.
The allocation targets 10 priority districts—Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Kasur, and Bahawalnagar—each receiving 20 motorcycles. These districts were prioritized based on the large numbers of “zero-dose,” due, and defaulter children identified by health authorities.
Officials said the initiative will benefit an estimated 8 million residents in the selected areas. Motorcycles will enable vaccinators to reach children in hard-to-access localities, carry out wider outreach activities, and more effectively monitor immunization progress. The effort reflects ongoing partnerships between the Punjab health department, WHO, and UNICEF to close gaps in vaccination coverage and improve public health outcomes.
