Gunmen attack polio survey team in Gilgit-Baltistan

GILGIT: A polio validation survey team was attacked by armed men in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Tangir district on Monday. The assailants reportedly opposed the presence of female staff members in the team.

The team had just completed a two-day vaccination coverage verification exercise and was returning near Ric Bridge around 2:45 pm when two armed individuals blocked their vehicle. According to a police FIR, the attackers threatened the team verbally, accusing them of disturbing the local "cultural environment" by bringing "unveiled women from Gilgit."

Earlier, the first case of wild poliovirus in Diamer district was confirmed by the National Institute of Health’s Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication. This marks the eleventh confirmed case of wild poliovirus reported in Pakistan so far in 2025.