Following the directive by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for National Health Mustafa Kamal will begin dialogue with leading political parties, while senior Ministry of National Health Services officials will talk to religious groups. The health benefits of the HPV vaccine are expected to be explained and the issues resolved. According to global health experts, the HPV vaccine is an essential tool in preventing cervical cancer.

The officials stated that the members of parliament would also be briefed in the forthcoming session of the National Assembly, where parliamentary parties would be presented with detailed presentations. The reservations of public representatives are to be dispelled through large-scale consultation and sensitization efforts.

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Pakistan bears one of the highest cervical cancer burdens in South Asia, with more than 5,000 new diagnoses every year and a death rate of over 60 percent, the World Health Organization says. The HPV vaccine, already administered in more than 120 nations, is endorsed by WHO as a vaccine for girls aged 9–14 years before they start becoming sexually active.

Health officials point out that mass immunization has the potential to save thousands of lives, but misinformation, cultural and religious sensitivities have hampered progress in Pakistan. Officials are convinced that it will be important to involve political and religious stakeholders in the effort to build public confidence and nationwide success in the program.