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Govt to launch nationwide anti-polio drive in three provinces on Sept 1

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Govt to launch nationwide anti-polio drive in three provinces on Sept 1


Female Polio worker administering polio drops to children at Warsak road during anti-polio vaccination campaign in Peshawar on September 9, 2024. — APP
  • Pakistan reports 26 polio cases this year.
  • Most cases reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
  • Polio virus detected in sewage samples of 127 districts.

Pakistan will launch new nationwide anti-polio campaign on September 1 in three provinces, while in Punjab, the campaign will start on September 10.

Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal, accompanied by MQM-Pakistan leader Anis Qaimkhani, held a press conference at his camp office in Karachi on Friday regarding the upcoming nationwide polio Campaign and flood situation in Pakistan.

Addressing the presser, he said that the polio virus has been detected in sewage samples of 127 districts across the country, including all districts of Karachi.

He stated that out of the 26 reported cases this year, 16 were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with 13 cases emerging from southern KP where security challenges had hindered vaccination efforts.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has postponed the polio vaccination campaign in nine districts of Punjab due to the ongoing flood situation.

The campaign has been postponed in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalpur. Meanwhile, the polio drive will continue as scheduled in Rawalpindi, Mianwali, Faisalabad, and Dera Ghazi Khan.

In Attock, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan, the vaccination campaign will proceed as planned.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Kamal said: “The only solution to protect children from polio is repeated administration of polio drops. All religious scholars and madrasas have declared the vaccine safe, and we must depoliticise the fight against polio. Afghanistan and Pakistan are conducting synchronised polio drives, and with joint efforts, we will soon rid the country of this crippling disease.”

The health minister further stressed that parents in Karachi show the highest resistance to polio vaccination. He noted that door-to-door campaigns are underway across Pakistan.

Turning to the flood situation in the country, Kamal said the government has responded to all demands for medicines and medical equipment from flood-affected areas. He stated that federal and provincial governments are in constant coordination, while a Command and Control Room has been established at the National Institute of Health (NIH) to monitor the situation. He added that NDMA teams are in close contact with the Ministry of Health.

Kamal emphasised that natural disasters cannot be tackled by provincial or federal governments alone, and called for strengthening of the local government system, which he termed the most effective mechanism for disaster management.

“Our country is functioning under provincial and federal structures, but disasters of such magnitude cannot be managed without empowered local bodies. We need administrative reforms and creation of new units on administrative grounds, not to divide the country but to strengthen governance and ensure delivery at the grassroots level.”

The minister added that while the provinces received Rs 8,700 billion collectively, there is no mechanism to ensure that resources trickle down to the lowest tier. He called for transparent planning and effective utilisation of funds.





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Joe Jonas shares candid glimpse into parenthood with Sophie Turner

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Joe Jonas shares candid glimpse into parenthood with Sophie Turner


Joe Jonas shares two daughters Delphine and Willa with ex-wife Sophie Turner

Joe Jonas is documenting his life as a dad on social media and shared the latest update featuring his daughters’ progress on spelling and writing.

The 36-year-old musician took to Instagram and shared a picture of a wholesome message written down by one of his daughters – Delphine, 3, or Willa, 5, on his Stories.

The handwritten note read, “dad” with an extra “a” to the word. Below the word, was written “I love you” with hearts all across the page.

The Jonas Brothers bandmate has been vocal about his gratitude for being a father. He welcomed his firstborn with former wife Sophie Turner in 2020.

Joe Jonas shares candid glimpse into parenthood with Sophie Turner

During a podcast appearance at Amy Poehler’s Good Hang, Joe and his brothers, Nick, 33, and Kevin, 38, talked about their experiences as parents.

As four kids to who grew up together, Joe detailed that he experienced a cultural shock in raising the girls, “Boys are so different than girls. I’ll watch my kids on the playground and it’s, like, delicate. And then this kid will be like, ‘Ahh!’ And dive off the top of the slide. And you’re just like, ‘That is a boy,’” he said.

The Camp Rock alum credited their “superstar” mom for raising the boys, saying, “She was the boss, you know…Growing up, we needed a loud voice like her to be able to control us and also make sure that we weren’t, like, pieces of s—t.”





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Robert Pattinson gets emotional about fatherhood in new interview

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Robert Pattinson gets emotional about fatherhood in new interview


Robert Pattinson gushes over baby with Suki Waterhouse in rare interview

Robert Pattinson spoke about his baby daughter, who he shares with Suki Waterhouse, in a new interview with his The Drama co-star Zendaya.

The 29-year-old actress and the Batman star, 39, took a friendship quiz where he asked her to guess what his favourite thing about being a dad is.

The Dune star promptly answered, “everything, all of it, no?” to Pattinson replied, “yes, that’s the best. No favourite things.”

Zendaya also added that baby Pattinson, who her parents have kept away from the public eye, is “wonderful.” 

The sweet moment from their GQ interview went viral on social media as fans gushed over how emotional the Twilight actor looked talking about his baby daughter.

Pattinson’s daughter recently turned two, and her mother, the musician, shared a picture of herself with the Elmo-themed decor, which was the theme of their baby’s birthday.

Speaking about the celebrations later, the dad of one told the press during a premiere that the toddler loves Elmo.

While the couple keeps their daughter hidden from the cameras, fans guessed that Zendaya would have met her on set when the family visited Pattinson.





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King Charles’ Easter silence raises worries about his health

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King Charles’ Easter silence raises worries about his health


Bishop warns King Charles, says he is ‘bitterly disappointed’

King Charles has opted not to deliver an Easter message this year that has left at least one senior church figure openly dismayed and questioning whether the Palace has misread the national sentiment.

Bishop Ceirion H Dewar describing himself as “bitterly disappointed” and warning the monarch that the decision risks falling out of step with public expectations.

While Buckingham Palace clarified that an Easter broadcast is not a fixed royal tradition in the way the Christmas address is, the bishop argued that the King has, in recent years, created his own precedent by marking the occasion. 

Speaking candidly, the bishop suggested the absence of a message would leave many feeling overlooked, especially given the King’s title as Defender of the Faith. 

He went further, claiming the choice could deepen concerns already circulating among Christians across the Commonwealth.

This latest criticism follows a letter Dewar sent directly to the Palace later made public in which he raised worries about how Christianity is represented in royal messaging. 

That letter has since gathered thousands of signatures, turning a personal appeal into a growing campaign.

Some observers reading the unusual royal silence as a sign of possible strain. 

Traditionally, the monarch has marked major Christian holidays with a public message, but this year Buckingham Palace confirmed no Easter address will be released. 

Royal watchers worry that the break in tradition could hint at personal or health-related pressures weighing on His Majesty.





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