ISLAMABAD: The number of polio cases in the country has risen to 173 in 2011.

According to a prvate news channel report, during the current week, six new cases have been reported from Balochistan and two from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

As per data provided by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the highest number of polio cases have been registered in Balochistan (68), 50 from Fata, 30 from Sindh, 19 from KPK, 5 from the Punjab and one from Gilgit-Baltistan.

In 2010, 144 polio cases were reported while 2009 witnessed 116 polio cases. An anti-polio countrywide campaign is planned to start from December 19th.