Pakistan, Jan. 15 -- Polio continues to persist in Pakistan after decades of effort. Why? I firmly believe we can eliminate polio-if only we stop selling our national pride short for a paltry $150 million. Frankly, the existence of Polio in Pakistan says far more about our priorities than about our capacity. After decades of vaccination campaigns, billions spent globally, and near-universal eradication elsewhere, Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world-alongside Afghanistan-where polio has never been eliminated. For a country that sees itself as a regional power, this is not just a public-health failure; it is a national embarrassment.

Over the past year, Pakistan has regained some international standing. It has demonstra...