polio-drops-pakistan-ap-670
-AP File Photo

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has suspended its anti-polio campaign in the province in the aftermath of attacks on polio workers in Karachi and Peshawar on Tuesday, an official told DawnNews.

Noorul Haq Baloch, the focal person of Balochistan government on polio, said the campaign was suspended for an indefinite period in Quetta, Killa Abdullah and Pishin districts.

"The reason behind suspension of the campaign is security threat to workers," said Baloch.

He said so far four confirmed cases of polio were reported in Balochistan this year. Baloch said 11 cases of polio 2 virus were reported in Balochistan.

"Polio 2 virus is curable and can be treated within three months", he said.

He said last year 73 cases of polio virus were reported in Balochistan.

The Balochistan Health Department in collaboration with World Health Organization, had decided to restart an anti-polio campaign from December 24 to 28 in Quetta, Killa Abdullah and Pishin districts. The campaign has now been suspended.

A polio volunteer was killed in Eastern By Pass area of Quetta a month ago. His killers are still at large.

Militants have frequently issued warnings to anti-polio teams in different districts of the sparsely populated province of the country.

Opinion

Editorial

Missing in action
17 Mar, 2026

Missing in action

NOT exactly known for playing a proactive role in protecting the interests of Muslim nations and populations...
Risk to stability
Updated 17 Mar, 2026

Risk to stability

THE risks to Pakistan’s fragile economic recovery from the US-Israel war on Iran cannot be dismissed. Yet the...
Enrolment push
17 Mar, 2026

Enrolment push

THE federal government has embarked upon the welcome initiative to enrol 25,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad...
Holding the line
16 Mar, 2026

Holding the line

PAKISTAN’S long battle against polio has recently produced encouraging signs. Data from the national eradication...
Power self-reliance
Updated 16 Mar, 2026

Power self-reliance

PAKISTAN’S transition to domestic sources of electricity is a welcome development for a country that has long been...
Looking for safety
16 Mar, 2026

Looking for safety

AS the Middle East conflict enters its third week, the war’s most enduring victims are not those who wage it....