Anti-polio campaign postponed in Quetta ahead of PM’s visit

Vaccination drive delayed as law enforcement forces diverted to provide security to PM Nawaz

QUETTA: The four-day anti-polio drive in Quetta has been postponed due to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit as law enforcement authorities in the city will be engaged in providing security to the premier.

The anti-polio campaign was supposed to start on Monday, however, security officials cited prime minister's visit as the main reason for the delay.

“The anti-polio campaign was postponed due to security reasons as Prime Minister Nawaz is scheduled to visit Quetta,” Deputy Commissioner Dawood Khilji confirmed. "It was also delayed because of matriculation examinations which will begin from February 18," the deputy commissioner added.

The PM is scheduled to visit Quetta on February 17 or 18 to head the provincial apex committee meeting in the provincial capital.

The nationwide anti-polio drive started on Monday. Campaigns in other parts of Balochistan have already begun.

Earlier this month, a constable deputed for the security of polio vaccinators was shot dead on the outskirts of Quetta, while a polio team and its police escorts went missing, presumably kidnapped by militants, in Zhob district on February 13.

As many as 22 cases of poliovirus were detected in Balochistan in 2014, while a majority of the cases were reported from Quetta and Qila Abdullah.