ISLAMABAD: A new polio case has been found in Gilgit-Baltistan, bringing to 11 the tally of polio cases found to date this year in the country despite repeated countrywide campaigns against the crippling disease.

Regional Reference Laboratory for anti -polio confirms polio case in Gilgit –Baltistan. The new polio case has surfaced in Gilgit -Baltistan district. This is the first to emerge in Gilgit -Baltistan and 11 polio case in Pakistan

The 2025 National Anti -Polio Campaign had been completed a day ago where 45 million children were vaccinated nationwide during a polio campaign starting May 26.

The polio campaign has been launched in 159 districts of the country including high risk areas.

Earlier, during the current year, more than 41,800 children in Karachi were denied the polio vaccine by their parents when health workers visited their homes, it was revealed on Tuesday.

According to provincial data, Sindh has recorded a total of 42,999 refusal cases this year, with Karachi accounting for 41,875 of them. In contrast, the rest of Sindh has reported only 1,124 refusals.

With over 97% of the province’s vaccine refusal cases, Karachi remains a critical focus area in the fight against polio. The city’s 27 high-risk union councils are currently the target of intensified government efforts aimed at increasing vaccine acceptance and building public trust in the immunization initiative, according to a senior government official.