To counter the propaganda surrounding the ongoing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal had his daughter vaccinated against cervical cancer. The federal minister’s daughter received the HPV vaccine shot during a ceremony at the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) office in Karachi on Saturday.
Speaking to the media, Kamal—the former Karachi mayor—said, “The vaccination against cervical cancer has already been carried out in almost all Islamic countries.” He stressed that misleading propaganda had been spread since the campaign was launched and emphasized that no girl in the country should lose her life to this disease.
Kamal, who is also a senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader, said it was a difficult decision to bring his family before the media. “My only daughter is as precious to me as every daughter of the nation.” He expressed hope that his action would bring about a positive change in society’s perception of the vaccine. The federal minister also emphasized that if the vaccine had any flaws, he would not have allowed his daughter to receive it. He added, “Pakistan is the 151st country in the world where this vaccine is being administered.”
Cervical Cancer: A Preventable but Deadly Disease
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is one of the most preventable yet deadly diseases for women, claiming one life every two minutes worldwide. Nearly 94% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, it is the fourth most common cancer among women, but in Pakistan, the situation is even more alarming, as it is the second most common cancer in the country. Each year, more than 5,000 Pakistani women are diagnosed with it, and nearly 3,000 of them lose their lives.
At the core of this disease is HPV, the most widespread viral infection of the reproductive tract. While most infections clear naturally, persistent high-risk HPV strains can cause cervical cancer. The tragedy is that this cancer is largely preventable. A safe vaccine exists that prevents over 90% of high-risk HPV infections and can avert nearly 17 deaths per 1,000 girls vaccinated.
In a landmark step, Pakistan rolled out the first phase of the HPV vaccination campaign on September 15 with a 12-day effort targeting Sindh, Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Islamabad. The vaccine, aimed at girls between 9 and 14 years of age, is being delivered primarily through schools and will later be integrated into the national immunization program, ultimately reaching nearly 18 million girls nationwide. The launch also places Pakistan firmly on track toward achieving the WHO’s cervical cancer elimination targets by 2030 by vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15, screening 70% of women, and ensuring 90% of those with the disease receive timely treatment.
