Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Polio campaign suspended in flood-hit Punjab districts

Polio campaign

LAHORE: The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has announced that the anti-polio campaign has been postponed in nine districts of Punjab due to the prevailing flood situation. The campaign will not be carried out in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalpur. According to NEOC, the drive will proceed as scheduled in … Read more

Two new polio cases confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: NEOC

NEOC

ISLAMABAD: The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has confirmed two new polio cases in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total number of cases in Pakistan this year to 23. According to the NEOC, the affected children belong to Tank district and North Waziristan. The Centre warned that polio is an incurable disease that can cause … Read more

Pakistan confirms presence of poliovirus in environmental samples

Pakistan

KARACHI: The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has issued the latest results of environmental surveillance for July, confirming the presence of poliovirus in multiple districts. According to the NEOC, poliovirus has been detected in samples from Diamer, South Waziristan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of Poliovirus Type 1, the most dangerous strain … Read more

Pakistan confirms two new polio cases

Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded two additional polio cases, pushing the nationwide total to 21 cases in 2025, health officials confirmed on Monday. The latest infections were detected in Lower Kohistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Badin (Sindh), triggering strengthened vaccination campaigns in the affected districts. According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), the newly confirmed cases … Read more

Another polio case reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Another polio

ISLAMABAD: A new polio case has been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising the total number of cases in Pakistan this year to 19. According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), the latest case has been confirmed in a five-month-old child from Lakki Marwat district. The child, infected with the poliovirus, belongs to Union Council … Read more

Pakistan reports another polio case

Pakistan reports

ISLAMABAD: Another case of polio has been reported in Pakistan, bringing the total number of affected children this year to 14, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC). The 14th case of 2025 has been confirmed in North Waziristan, NEOC stated. According to the Polio Reference Laboratory, the affected child is 19 months old. … Read more

NDMA Predicts More Rain, Issues Warning for Urban Flooding

NDMA Predicts More Rain, Issues Warning for Urban Flooding

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday issued a countrywide alert warning about heavy monsoon rains and possible flooding in different parts of Pakistan over the next few days. The National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) has also shared several weather alerts saying that widespread rain, wind, and thunderstorms with some heavy showers are expected … Read more

Pakistan launches third national Polio vaccination campaign

Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Polio Programme launched the third drive of the year against the crippling disease at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Islamabad. Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal officially launched the third National Polio Campaign of 2025 at the NEOC. Addressing a press conference, emphasizing the critical importance of immunization, the Minister reiterated … Read more

4 more polio cases reported in Pakistan

Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The total number of polio cases in Pakistan has reached 63 this year as 4 more polio cases reported in the country.

The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC)has confirmed 4 more polio cases in Pakistan. The  polio cases have been reported from Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Jacobabad and Sukkur.

According to the EOC, this is the 9th case of polio from Dera Ismail Khan, the third from Jacobabad and the first from Sukkur.

This year 26 polio cases have been reported from Balochistan, 18 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 17 from Sindh, 1 from Punjab and Islamabad. The total number of polio cases across the country has reached 63.

On the other hand, Chief Secretary Sindh, Asif Hyder Shah, chaired a high-level meeting to finalize preparations for the upcoming seven-day anti-polio campaign set to begin on December 16.

During the campaign, over 10.6 million children across Sindh will be administered polio drops. Chief Secretary Sindh emphasized the critical importance of eradicating polio and ensuring every child receives the vaccine.

He announced that more than 80,000 frontline workers will participate in this extensive drive, and polio teams will also be deployed at all major bus terminals across the province to ensure coverage of children in transit.

Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah directed all deputy commissioners to make every effort to convince parents who refuse vaccination, urging them to cooperate for the safety and future of their children.

He also appealed to parents to support the polio teams in their mission to safeguard children from this debilitating disease.

The Chief Secretary stressed that no negligence in the training of polio workers would be tolerated.

He instructed the district administration and union council (UC) secretaries from the Local Government Department to remain active in the field throughout the campaign.

[embedpost slug=”three-more-polio-cases-reported-in-pakistan”]

Read more

NDMA issues weather alert for upper parts of country

NDMA

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a weather advisory for the upper parts of Pakistan, predicting cold weather with isolated rainfall and snowfall over the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In its advisory, the NDMA urged residents to stay informed through the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert App, which provides safety guidelines. Local … Read more

Two more polio cases reported in Pakistan  

Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has reported two more poliovirus cases in Pakistan, bringing the total number of cases this year to 52.

The National Reference Lab confirmed the cases, which were detected in Dera Ismail Khan’s Tehsil Darazinda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The new cases include a three-year-old boy and a one-and-a-half-year-old girl, both of whom tested positive for Wild Poliovirus Type 1.

Sources revealed that the genetic analysis of the virus is currently underway.

So far this year,  24 polio cases were registered in Balochistan, 13 in Sindh,13 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one each in Punjab and Islamabad.

[embedpost slug=”pm-shehbaz-vows-to-make-pakistan-a-polio-free-country”]

Read more

NDMA activities NEOC in anticipation of rain related emergencies

NDMA

ISLAMABAD: Based on predictive modelling, National Disaster Management Authority’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) has been reported a significant activity from the eastern Indian side, indicating intense cloud bursts that may hit Pakistani areas.

Repeated early warnings have been shared with all provinces, and moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to start over the upper catchments of all major rivers particularly Sutlej, Ravi & Chenab from July 2, 2024. NDMA has also issued an alert regarding lightning, according to which lightning is expected to strike in various cities of South and Central Punjab and Islamabad during July 5-7.

This may lead to rapid rises in water levels, flash flooding events, and urban flooding in metropolitan areas. NDMA warns that the anticipated rainfall poses a significant risk of low to medium level flooding in River Sutlej, with water levels expected to reach low flood levels (approximately 50,000 cusecs) by July 5 and high flood levels (approximately 120,000 cusecs) by July 10, 2024.

NDMA is working closely with federal and provincial departments to ensure preparedness and response to this potential emergency.

The public is advised to remain vigilant and follow instructions from local authorities. NDMA advises public to stay informed and download ‘Pak NDMA Disaster Alert’ mobile app for timely alerts and closely monitor weather reports and updates on the flood situation, follow instructions, evacuate immediately if orders are issued by local authorities, protect yourself from floodwater, avoid contact with floodwater, which may be contaminated or contain debris or electrical wires.

Develop an evacuation plans with your family, identify a safe location, and create an emergency kit with essential supplies. Travelers are advised to avoid unnecessary travel in case of heavy rainfalls and likely flooding situations.

[embedpost slug=”rains-leave-six-dead-25-hurt-in-balochistan”]

Read more

NDMA becomes safety wall for Pakistan: PM

NDMA

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauding the revamped National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) equipped with multiple satellite feeds and artificial intelligence tools, expressed the hope that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) would prove to be a safety wall for Pakistan against the impacts of the climate change.

“Due to climate change, Pakistan is in the red zone and among the top ten vulnerable countries. We should not lose our morale rather work hard. After this achievement, I have no doubt that the NDMA, in coordination with provincial PDMAs, will become a safety wall for Pakistan,” the prime minister said during his visit to the NEOC here along with the federal ministers and federal secretaries.

This was the maiden visit of the prime minister since the revamped NEOC was inaugurated in October last year.

He highly appreciated the Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik for realising his dream of focusing on the capacity building and human resource development of the Authority instead of an earlier planned project of building an office tower.

Referring to his previous meetings following the floods of 2022, the prime minister said he had suggested the NDMA chief to prioritise the the capacity building of the organisation by equipping it with the latest technology, input from provinces and recruitment of permanent human resources, besides establishing a digital hub.

“Today, the way that dream has been realised deserves applause. I don’t think any province has achieved such capacity with the world-class systems. I am happy that instead of a highrise building, you invested in this digital hub,” the prime minister remarked.

He said the 2022 floods had inflicted a $30 billion loss to the country which would take years to overcome as the federal government alone had spent Rs100 billion for rehabilitation of the affected population besides the funding from provinces as well as aid from the friendly countries.

[embedpost slug=”pm-strongly-condemns-killing-of-senior-journalist-in-landi-kotal”]

Read more

Samoa reports four new COVID-19 cases

samoa

SUVA – Samoa reported on Thursday four new COVID-19 positive cases in quarantine, bringing to 12 the total number of infections from a flight that arrived in the Pacific island country from New Zealand on Sunday. According to the newspaper Samoa Observer, Samoa’s National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) confirmed on Thursday that the four new … Read more

Over 32 million children vaccinated against polio in Pakistan

According to a report by the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) for Polio Eradication, over 32 million children under the age of five have been vaccinated against polio in 130 districts across Pakistan. As per the report, children (aged between six and 59 months) have also received Vitamin A supplements on Aug 13 during the … Read more