NUSHKI: Two policemen guarding a polio vaccination team were martyred after unidentified armed men opened fire in Nushki district of Balochistan on Tuesday, police said.
The deceased officials were identified as Yasir Ahmed and Abdul Rauf, according to Nushki City police station.
Police said the attackers also took the weapons of the two policemen after the shooting.
Security personnel often target polio vaccination teams in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Such attacks aim to disrupt vaccination campaigns and prevent health workers from reaching children.
In May, two policemen were martyred in separate attacks targeting polio vaccination teams in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The latest incident comes as Pakistan’s nationwide anti-polio campaign continues from September 21 to 27.
Health authorities aim to vaccinate around 31 million children during the campaign.
PM Reaffirms Commitment to Polio Eradication
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier this month reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to completely eradicate polio from the country.
He made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Gates Foundation in Islamabad on September 10.
The prime minister said the national polio eradication programme had the government’s highest-level support.
He also praised the Gates Foundation for its role in polio eradication, healthcare, nutrition, financial inclusion and support for vulnerable communities.
Pakistan remains one of the few countries where wild poliovirus transmission continues. Security concerns have repeatedly disrupted vaccination campaigns in parts of
