KARACHI: The citywide polio vaccination campaign begins today and will continue until September 7, with a comprehensive security plan put in place.

According to a police spokesperson, a total of 10,463 police officers and personnel will be deployed to ensure the safety of polio teams and workers throughout the campaign.

The drive will see the participation of 15,511 teams and 24,003 workers, who will be provided full security, Additional IG Karachi confirmed.

The Police Chief has also directed zonal officers to personally supervise and monitor the security arrangements during the campaign.

Earlier, National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) had 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 lifelong paralysis, stressing that children in hard-to-reach areas or those where vaccination is refused remain at serious risk.

The NEOC stated that high-quality vaccination campaigns are being carried out to stop the spread of the poliovirus.