May 27, 2025
By Iqra Manzoor
LAHORE
In a disturbing incident underscoring the persistent threats faced by frontline health workers in Pakistan, two members of a polio vaccination team were reportedly abducted by unidentified armed assailants on Monday in the Dolat Koruna, Jindola, area of the Tank district in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. The abducted workers were identified as Union Council official Sifatullah Khan and his colleague Hizbullah. The incident occurred as a five-day anti-polio campaign kicked off across the province, aiming to immunize millions of children under the age of five. However after efforts made by authorities and law enforcement agencies they were safely recovered, said the District Commissioner.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one of the most polio sensitive areas in Pakistan, the campaign officially began on May 26, targeting approximately 7.3 million children. It was formally inaugurated two days earlier by Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah at Police Services Hospital in Peshawar, where he administered oral polio drops to children. Senior officials including Additional Secretary Health and EOC Coordinator Shafiullah, Deputy Coordinator Zeeshan Khan, and representatives from UNICEF and WHO attended the ceremony. The Chief Secretary emphasized the continued threat of poliovirus and urged parents to vaccinate their children to protect them from lifelong disability.
Dangerous work
Despite their safe recovery, the abduction of the polio workers points to a grim reminder of the dangers the vaccination teams face in the region. Over the years, polio workers and their security escorts have been repeatedly targeted—abducted, injured, or even killed—while carrying out life-saving duties.
According to the 2024 Pakistan Security Report by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), 13 attacks on polio teams resulted in 13 deaths and 10 injuries—up from 10 attacks in 2023.
Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Advisor for Polio Eradication and Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), condemned the incident.
“It is very unfortunate to witness such incidents where polio workers are targeted,” she said. “These frontline workers are our heroes, working tirelessly to protect children from a lifelong, preventable disease. We are actively working to ensure their safety. I want to emphasize that ensuring the safety of polio workers is the government’s top priority.”
Farooq emphasized that comprehensive security plans are developed in coordination with law enforcement and health departments before every campaign. “Each time a campaign begins, we collaborate closely with security agencies to plan protection strategies.”
Farooq had been in contact with the district administration of Tank and met with the Chief Secretary and other officials to ensure the safe recovery of the abducted workers.
Vaccine refusal
Farooq who is also chairperson of the National Comission for the Rights of the Child (NCRC) also expressed concern over a troubling trend: some communities refuse the vaccine to press unrelated demands. “While some of these demands may be legitimate, denying children the vaccine is unacceptable. It puts their lives and futures at risk. There are refusal pockets in various provinces, and we must address this with awareness, not coercion.”
Farooq added that polio campaigns in Pakistan face a level of resistance not seen in other global immunization efforts. “Internationally, campaigns such as for measles do not encounter such opposition. It’s critical that media, civil society, and state institutions come together to counter misinformation and raise awareness.”
‘Danger zone for polio workers’
Meanwhile the Deputy Commissioner of Tank, Tanveer Khan, confirmed to Voicepk that both abducted polio workers have been safely released. According to Khan, the breakthrough came after successful negotiations led by members of the local community, particularly the families of the abducted workers.
“The region where the workers were abducted is a hilly, mountainous area with no network coverage and limited access for law enforcement,” Khan explained. “Due to the strong presence of militants in the area, police officials are unable to enter, as they are frequently targeted. In the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it is common for the local community to play a crucial role in resolving such conflicts.”
When asked about possible perpetrators, Khan noted that while there is suspicion the abduction may have been carried out by the Taliban, it is too early to make a definitive statement. “There is suspicion of Taliban involvement, but we will only confirm that once the families or community members involved in the negotiations identify those behind the abduction.”
Khan emphasized that the abducted workers belonged to the local community, which played a key role in securing their safe return. Authorities are now waiting for further information from these community intermediaries to determine the exact nature and motivation of the abductors.
This is not an isolated case. Other incidents from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh reported in 2025 reveal a continued pattern of violence against polio workers and refusals by local communities, often driven by unrelated grievances.
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio is still endemic, according to the World Population Review. Despite notable gains, the campaign continues to be undermined by misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and security threats.
Data from the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme shows fluctuating trends in Wild Poliovirus (WPV) cases: 84 in 2020, just one in 2021, 20 in 2022, six in 2023, and a sharp rise to 74 cases in 2024. As of May 2025, ten new cases have been reported—five in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four in Sindh, and one in Punjab.
As Pakistan stands at a critical juncture in its decades-long battle against polio, the safety of polio workers must be treated not just as a security concern, but as a national priority. With the government reaffirming its commitment to their protection, it is now up to all stakeholders—state, society, and media—to act decisively to create a safer, healthier future for all.