Wednesday, February 11, 2026
ADVT 
International

Anti-Polio Drive Suspended In Pakistan For Security Reasons

Darpan News Desk IANS, 21 May, 2015 11:34 AM
    An anti-polio drive was suspended on Thursday in Pakistan's Quetta city due to authorities' failure to provide adequate security to polio administration teams, media reports said.
     
    A source in the the Balochistan health department said the anti-polio drive would be re-launched on Friday after appropriate security was provided by the administration, Dawn reported.
     
    "There are polio samples in the environment of Quetta ... We fear (there may be) polio cases in Quetta," a source said.
     
    Polio teams have been attacked in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan in the past.
     
    In November 2014, gunmen attacked an anti-polio team in Quetta's Eastern Bypass area and killed four polio workers, including three women volunteers.
     
    The Balochistan health department -- with the support of Unicef and other organisations -- aims to administer polio drops to more than 400,000 children below the age of five years in Quetta during the ongoing campaign.
     
    The campaign, during its first phase, was launched in 18 union councils on Wednesday morning.
     
    "The second phase will be launched on May 25 in different parts of Quetta," said campaign Emergency Centre Coordinator Saifur Rehman in a statement.
     
    During 2015, three polio cases have been reported from Balochistan's Killa Abdullah, Loralai and Quetta areas.
     
    Currently, a polio campaign is underway in Zhob, Sherani, Lasbella and four other districts of the province.
     
    The provincial government has decided to provide anti-polio drops to 1.2 million children in these districts.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Imran Khan drives around Lahore amid shutdown

    Imran Khan drives around Lahore amid shutdown
    Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan Monday joined a caravan of his supporters which was passing through different areas of Lahore after....

    Imran Khan drives around Lahore amid shutdown

    Sydney Siege Ends: Police Storm Cafe, Free Hostages, Two Dead

    Sydney Siege Ends: Police Storm Cafe, Free Hostages, Two Dead
    A 16-hour hostage crisis -- the first terror attack in Australia -- ended early Tuesday after police stormed a cafe in the heart of Sydney where an Iran-born cleric took some 30 people hostage and made several demands, sending shockwaves across the country.

    Sydney Siege Ends: Police Storm Cafe, Free Hostages, Two Dead

    Sydney Siege: Islamic Flag Displayed As Hostages Held In Sydney's Lindt Cafe

    Sydney Siege: Islamic Flag Displayed As Hostages Held In Sydney's Lindt Cafe
    An armed man Monday took several people hostage inside a shop in Sydney's central business district, forcing the government to call an emergency security meeting here.

    Sydney Siege: Islamic Flag Displayed As Hostages Held In Sydney's Lindt Cafe

    Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss Crowned Miss World 2014

    Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss Crowned Miss World 2014
    South Africa's Rolene Strauss bagged the Miss World 2014 title here Sunday. The 22-year-old was crowned by Miss World 2013 Megan Young, who also co-hosted the pageant with Tim Vincent.

    Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss Crowned Miss World 2014

    Man in Scotland charged with Sikh waiter's murder

    Man in Scotland charged with Sikh waiter's murder
     A man has been charged with murdering Indian waiter Surjit Singh Chhokar in Overtown, in Scotland's North Lanarkshire council area, 16 years back, media reported Friday....

    Man in Scotland charged with Sikh waiter's murder

    Psychoactive magic mushroom found in Buckingham Palace

    Psychoactive magic mushroom found in Buckingham Palace
    A hallucinogenic toadstool mushroom has been found growing in the gardens of Britain's Buckingham Palace, a media report said Friday....

    Psychoactive magic mushroom found in Buckingham Palace