Health

Cop guarding polio vaccination team martyred in Hangu attack

Peshawar: A policeman deployed to protect an anti-polio team was martyred and four others were injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on them in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu on Monday.

Hangu SDPO Mujahid Hussain said that the attack targeted a police van carrying a team of five personnel assigned to provide security to a polio vaccination team in the Chapri Waziran area. All of the policemen sustained bullet wounds in the shooting, but one of them later succumbed to his injuries, he revealed.

The remaining injured personnel were shifted to a medical facility, the SDPO added.

The Pakistan Polio Programme officially commenced its second National Immunisation Days (NIDs) campaign of 2026 today, to make Pakistan a polio-free nation.

The five-day countrywide campaign aims to immunise over 45 million children under five years of age. This effort is seen as a decisive step in the country’s final push to stop poliovirus transmission and achieve eradication by the end of 2025.

NEOC confirmed the first wild polio case of 2026 in a four-year-old child from Bello Union Council, Sujawal district, Sindh, last month.

The case was reported through the polio surveillance network and confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad.

In Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan — the only countries where polio remains endemic — militants have for decades targeted vaccination teams and their security escorts.

Over the past decade, hundreds of police officers and health workers have been killed by militants.

Polio, a highly infectious virus mainly affecting children under five, can result in lifelong paralysis but is easily prevented by the oral administration of a few drops of a vaccine.

The Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) is already analysing the best response to tackle and prevent further transmission.

Despite challenges, eradicating the global public threat of polio in Pakistan and worldwide is within reach, and the PEI continues to intensify its efforts to leave no child behind. Since 1994, thanks to polio vaccines, Pakistan has reduced polio cases by 99.8% – from 20,000 estimated cases in the early 1990s to 31 in 2025.

In 2025, Pakistan’s PEI carried out five nationwide campaigns, in addition to targeted rounds of oral and injectable polio vaccination and integrated activities with the national routine immunisation programme.

While the overall trend shows a decline in poliovirus detections compared to 2024, reflecting the impact of high-quality vaccination campaigns conducted in 2025, virus circulation persists in certain high-risk areas, including districts of Sindh and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

These detections underscore the continued need for robust, targeted efforts to interrupt transmission and consistent vaccination for children.

Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis and death. However, the disease can be prevented thanks to polio vaccines, which are safe and effective and have been safely used in 195 countries, including all Muslim countries.

Polio eradication is a collective responsibility. While Pakistan’s dedicated frontline workers ensure that vaccines reach every child, parents and caregivers play a crucial role by making sure their children receive all recommended doses, including routine immunisations.

The PEI urges all parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are vaccinated during every campaign to protect them from lifelong disability and/or death.

Communities, religious leaders, and the media also play a vital role in promoting vaccination, countering misinformation, and ensuring that every child in Pakistan is protected. Together, we can achieve a polio-free future for every child, in Pakistan and worldwide.

Health

Hot, humid conditions to prevail across plains:PMD

ISLAMABAD:Mainly hot and humid weather is expected to prevail over most plain areas of the country on Thursday, while partly cloudy conditions are likely in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast.

In Islamabad and adjoining areas, hot and humid weather is expected during the day, while rain-wind/thunderstorm is likely during evening/night with a probability of 30 percent.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, most plain districts are expected to experience hot and humid weather. However, upper districts are likely to remain partly cloudy, with chances of rain-wind/thunderstorm in Waziristan, Hangu, Kurram, Kohat and adjoining areas during the afternoon.

In Punjab, mainly hot and humid weather is expected over most districts. However, partly cloudy conditions with chances of rain-wind/thundershower are likely in Murree, Galiyat and adjoining areas during the afternoon.

In Sindh, mainly hot and humid weather is expected over most districts, while coastal areas, including Karachi, are likely to remain partly cloudy with chances of drizzle.

Most districts of Balochistan are also expected to experience hot and humid weather, while partly cloudy conditions are likely in coastal areas.

Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to experience partly cloudy and dry weather.

During the past 24 hours, weather remained hot and humid over most plain areas of the country, while isolated light rain occurred in Gilgit-Baltistan. Babusar received 5 millimetres of rain.

The highest maximum temperatures recorded on Wednesday were 43 C at Nokkundi, Dalbandin and Sibbi, while Bhakkar and Noor Pur Thal recorded 42 C.

The minimum and maximum temperatures recorded in major cities were: Islamabad 24/36 C, Lahore 28/38 C, Karachi 26/34 C, Peshawar 26/38 C, Quetta 16/35 C, Gilgit 14/36 C, Muzaffarabad 22/37 C, Skardu 12/29 C, Murree 14/23 C, Faisalabad 27/38 C and Multan 27/37 C.

In Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Baramulla, the temperatures remained at 15/32 C, 25/34 C, 7/23 C, 16/34 C, 17/31 C, 15/34 C and 16/32 C, respectively.

Health

30 childcare centers launched for pilgrims’ families, Hajj workers

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development is supervising more than 30 licensed childcare centers in Makkah and Madinah during the Hajj 1447 AH season to support pilgrims’ families and seasonal field workers.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the centers have been prepared to accommodate up to 900 children in safe and professionally supervised environments during the Hajj season.

The report said the facilities provide educational and recreational activities for children of pilgrims, Umrah performers and workers performing field duties during Hajj operations.

Authorities said the initiative aims to reduce pressure on families and enable parents to perform Hajj rituals or official duties with greater peace of mind while their children remain in secure care centers.

The ministry added that the childcare facilities are operating under organized supervision to ensure proper care, safety and quality services for children throughout the Hajj season.

SPA told APP that the initiative supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by improving family support services linked to pilgrims’ comfort and enhancing the overall Hajj experience.

Health

Punjab Launches Disease Prevention Program to Combat Major Illnesses

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the launch of a province-wide “Disease Prevention Program” aimed at controlling the spread of major life-threatening illnesses.

The initiative will focus on preventing diseases such as diabetes, tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, alongside a large-scale public awareness campaign to educate citizens about prevention and treatment.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by the chief minister, where officials briefed her on the program’s objectives and implementation strategy.

Maryam Nawaz directed authorities to strictly enforce health standard operating procedures (SOPs) in public hospitals to prevent outbreaks and improve patient safety.

She also instructed the Punjab Healthcare Commission to ensure compliance with SOPs in private hospitals and clinics.

In addition, the chief minister ordered strict legal action against quack doctors operating across the province, stressing the need to eliminate unsafe medical practices.

She highlighted the importance of public awareness, noting that early detection of symptoms can play a key role in preventing serious complications and saving lives.

Officials said the program aims to strengthen preventive healthcare, reduce disease burden, and promote healthier communities across Punjab.