antipolio drive begin
| |

Anti-polio drive to begin in 13 Balochistan distri…

QUETTA: A targeted anti-polio vaccination campaign will begin on Monday across 62 high-risk union councils in 13 districts of Balochistan as health authorities intensify efforts to stop the spread of the poliovirus and protect children from lifelong disability.

According to the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), the campaign will cover 209,557 children under the age of five. Trained vaccination teams will visit homes and designated centres to administer oral polio vaccine free of charge.

Officials said 862 mobile vaccination teams have been deployed to conduct the campaign. In addition, 61 fixed vaccination centres and 72 transit vaccination points have been established to ensure that children travelling with their families or living in hard-to-reach areas are not missed.

The EOC said the campaign is focused on high-risk union councils where the threat of poliovirus transmission remains significant. Health authorities noted that the virus continues to circulate in some parts of the province, making regular vaccination campaigns essential to prevent new infections.

Officials stressed that polio is an incurable disease that can cause permanent paralysis, but it is completely preventable through timely vaccination. They urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that every eligible child receives polio drops during the campaign.

The EOC warned that every child who remains unvaccinated increases the risk of virus transmission within the community. Officials said even a small number of missed children can allow the virus to continue circulating and endanger other children.

The campaign will be carried out in Barkhan, Dukki, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Nasirabad, Sherani, Sohbatpur, Usta Muhammad, Zhob, Ziarat and Mastung. Special arrangements have been made in these districts to achieve maximum vaccination coverage.

Health authorities said supervisors and monitoring teams will oversee the campaign to ensure transparency, improve performance and address any operational challenges. Officials added that vaccination teams have been instructed to reach every household in the targeted areas.

Similar Posts

  • |

    President approves military and civil honours

    President Asif Ali Zardari has approved several summaries sent by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including military honours for 1,172 personnel of the armed forces and civil armed forces. The approved honours recognise the services and contributions of personnel from various ranks and institutions. The awards will acknowledge their dedication, professionalism and service to the country. President Zardari also approved the summoning of separate sessions of Parliament on August 17. The National Assembly will meet at 5pm, while the Senate will convene at 4pm. In another significant decision, the president approved a special 100-day remission in the sentences of prisoners on the occasions of Independence Day and Eid Milad-un-Nabi ﷺ. The concession will provide eligible prisoners with relief in their sentences under the applicable rules and conditions. President Zardari further approved national civil awards for citizens from various fields in recognition of their outstanding contributions and services. The honours cover individuals who have made notable contributions in their respective areas and brought recognition to the country. The approvals form part of the president’s constitutional responsibilities and reflect the government’s efforts to recognise public service, honour outstanding contributions and provide relief to eligible prisoners on important national and religious occasions.

  • Israelis in Thailand Warned by Embassy to Comply Strictly With Thai Laws Amid Phuket Crackdown

    BANGKOK — The Israeli Embassy in Bangkok has issued a stark warning to all Israelis in Thailand to strictly follow Thai laws, after authorities in Phuket launched a crackdown on law-breaking foreign tourists and expats. Foreign Tourists Accused of Using Children to Shoplift in Phuket Convenience Store The warning comes as foreign tourists in popular […]

  • | |

    Karachi watchman shot dead during suspected robber…

    Two people were killed in separate shooting incidents reported within an hour in different areas of Karachi on Thursday, prompting police to launch investigations into both cases. The first incident occurred in the Boat Basin police jurisdiction near Bath Island in Clifton, where a watchman was fatally shot outside a residential bungalow. Rescue officials shifted the victim’s body to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for legal formalities. According to Chhipa rescue officials, the deceased was identified as 40-year-old Mewa, who sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. Initial information suggested that armed suspects opened fire after encountering resistance during an attempted robbery. However, Boat Basin Station House Officer (SHO) Riaz Niazi said the exact motive behind the killing had not yet been established. He confirmed that the victim originally belonged to the Thar region and was employed as a watchman at the bungalow where the incident occurred. The SHO said police were investigating all possible angles, including personal enmity and robbery, before reaching a final conclusion. Authorities are also attempting to obtain CCTV footage from the surrounding area to identify the suspects and reconstruct the sequence of events. In a separate incident, another man was shot dead near Link Road on the National Highway in the Bin Qasim area. The victim was also taken to Jinnah Hospital for medico-legal procedures. Bin Qasim SHO Faisal Rafiq identified the deceased as 40-year-old Bashir, a truck driver originally from Dera Ismail Khan. According to preliminary findings, Bashir was present at a truck terminal when unidentified assailants, who were allegedly lying in wait, opened fire on him. Police said the victim suffered three bullet wounds, including one to the chest. Investigators recovered three spent 30-bore pistol casings from the crime scene, which have been collected as forensic evidence. Officials believe the second shooting may have been motivated by personal enmity, although they emphasised that the investigation remains ongoing and no suspects have been arrested so far. The two fatal incidents highlight the continuing security challenges in Karachi, where police regularly investigate cases involving violent crime, targeted attacks, and robbery-related shootings. Authorities have appealed to the public to cooperate with investigators and provide any information that may assist in identifying those responsible.

  • | |

    Sindh High Court forcibly retires senior civil jud…

    The Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court has ordered the compulsory retirement of Senior Civil Judge Ayaz Ali after corruption allegations against him were found to be proven following a departmental inquiry. According to the inspection team, the inquiry established misconduct on the part of the senior civil judge. The investigation was carried out in detail by Inquiry Officer Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi, who examined the allegations and submitted his findings after completing the proceedings. The inspection team said the competent authority had initially recommended the judge’s dismissal from service. However, after conducting the final hearing and reviewing all available facts and evidence, the Chief Justice decided to impose the penalty of compulsory retirement instead of outright dismissal. Officials said the decision was made after completing all legal and administrative procedures related to the disciplinary case. The punishment was finalized following a comprehensive review of the inquiry report and the recommendations submitted by the relevant authorities. The inspection team further stated that the Sindh High Court’s order has come into immediate effect. As a result, Senior Civil Judge Ayaz Ali has been compulsorily retired from judicial service in accordance with the court’s disciplinary decision. The action reflects the judiciary’s internal accountability process, under which complaints of misconduct against judicial officers are investigated through formal inquiries before disciplinary measures are taken. The latest order concludes the proceedings against the senior civil judge and has been enforced with immediate effect.

  • |

    One dead, 37 fall ill after eating vermicelli in R…

    RAJANPUR: One child has reportedly died and four other people remain in critical condition after allegedly falling ill from eating vermicelli in the Umerkot area of Rajanpur district. According to Rescue 1122 sources, as many as 37 members of the same family developed serious health complications after consuming the food. The affected individuals reportedly included women and children. Rescue teams shifted 30 patients to the District Headquarters Hospital for medical treatment, while another seven were taken to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Rojhan. Four of the affected people are said to be in critical condition, while doctors continue to monitor the health of the other patients.   Police officials said the family members told investigators that their health began to deteriorate after they ate the vermicelli. However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether the food caused the illness or whether another factor may have contributed to the incident. Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the mass illness. Officials are also expected to examine the food consumed by the family and gather further information as part of the inquiry.

  • | |

    Pakistan moves to establish strategic petroleum re…

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken a major step towards strengthening its energy security by initiating a feasibility study for the establishment of strategic petroleum reserves, with international energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie selected to undertake the project. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik chaired a meeting to formally launch the initiative, stressing that energy security is closely tied to the country’s national security. During the meeting, officials discussed the scope of the feasibility study, its expected completion timeline and the proposed framework for developing strategic petroleum reserves in Pakistan. Wood Mackenzie was chosen through a competitive bidding process after four firms submitted proposals for the project. The consultancy will assess key aspects of the proposed reserves and provide recommendations on their structure and development. The initiative is expected to help Pakistan improve its preparedness against potential disruptions in global oil supplies and strengthen the country’s overall energy resilience.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *