Tue, 21-Oct-2025

2nd phase of the f-IPV, OPV drive to begin from March 10

2nd phase

KARACHI: The second phase of the fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (f-IPV) and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) campaign will be conducted in 59 union councils of Karachi from March 10 to 16, 2025, targeting approximately 560,000 children under 5 years age. Around 11,000 frontline workers and supervisors will be deployed to ensure every child in high-risk … Read more

Navy Commissions 3rd offshore patrol vessel PNS HUNAIN in Romania

Navy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy has commissioned its Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), PNS HUNAIN at Constanta Port, Romania, where Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

Chief of the Defence Staff of Romania General Gheorghita Vlad and Chief of Romanian Navy Vice Admiral Mihai Panait also attended as guests of honour.

While addressing the ceremony, Chief of the Naval Staff emphasized on the significance of the project and highlighted the additional set of capabilities added to PN sphere of operations with the induction of PNS HUNAIN.

He expressed his confidence that induction of these multipurpose and highly adaptive platforms; equipped with state-of-the-art weapons/ sensors suite, will further enhance PN forward presence and perpetual operational readiness vis-à-vis deployment on Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) in the Indian Ocean Region.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf commended the exceptional professionalism and dedication of DAMEN Shipyard and expressed confidence in the prospects of future cooperation in delivering cutting-edge technologies to Pakistan Navy.

The newly commissioned, PNS HUNAIN is a multipurpose and highly agile platform of medium size tonnage.

The ship is a state-of-the-art electronic warfare, anti-ship & anti-air warfare capable platform with modern self-protection and terminal defence systems.

The ship is also capable of embarking multirole helicopter and can operate independently as well as part of a Task Force for enhanced duration to undertake a number of missions while safeguarding the Maritime interests of Pakistan.

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Sindh CM launches anti-polio campaign in 25 districts

Sindh CM

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that eradication of polio was a collective responsibility, therefore district administration, local bodies, civil society members and our partners must work together to save our children from the crippling disease of polio.

“We are launching a week-long National Immunization Campaign from Monday, 29th April in 25 districts, therefore all the deputy commissioners and SSPs must ensure its success by supporting the polio teams in administering Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to children below 5 -years of age.”

This he said while presiding over a meeting of the Provincial Task Force for Eradication of Polio here at CM House.

The Divisional Commissioner, DIGs of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur and Larkana participated in the meeting through video link. The chief minister said that polio had been eradicated from the entire region, except for Afghanistan and Pakistan, both of which have two cases each.

He explained that due to frequent inter-provincial population movements and even from Afghanistan, the country was struggling to eradicate the polio virus.

Minister Health Dr. Azra Pechuho, informed the CM that two cases of polio had been detected in Balochistan’s Dera Bugti and Chaman districts.

The CM was told that the environmental samples (ES) collected from all the districts showed that 43 areas of 11 districts were infected with polioviruses. They include 13 areas of Karachi East, three each of Central, Malir and Korangi, Hyderabad and Sukkur, Six each of South and Keamari, and one each in Jamshoro Jacobabad and Badin.

The chief minister directed the district administration, local bodies and solid waste management authorities to ensure proper cleanliness in the districts where poliovirus has been detected.

It was pointed out that in February 2024 national immunization Days were observed in which 38743 cases of refusal were reported. At this, the CM said that no parent would be allowed to refuse to administer polio drops to his or her children. “If you find any refusal case inform the district administration and they will take strict action,” he said.

The CM appreciated polio workers for reaching door to door to ensure giving polio vaccine to children under five.

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