Bannu Imposes Security Curbs for Polio Vaccination Drive

Authorities in Bannu imposed a week-long ban on motorcycle pillion riding, the public display of weapons and the use of tinted vehicle windows as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district prepares for a major polio vaccination campaign. The restrictions took effect on Sunday and will remain in force until November 7.

Deputy Commissioner Zia ur Rehman Khattak issued the order under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure following a security assessment from the district police. The vaccination operation is scheduled to run from November 2 to 5 across Bannu, an area facing persistent poliovirus transmission and serious access challenges.

The district administration said the preventive measures were required because polio teams and the police personnel assigned to protect them have previously faced terrorist attacks. Authorities are seeking to limit activities that could complicate security monitoring or allow armed individuals to move unnoticed during the campaign.

Anyone violating the restrictions may face legal proceedings under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code for disobeying a duly issued public order. Land record officials and union council secretaries performing authorised campaign duties have been exempted from the restriction concerning weapons, while the remaining prohibitions apply throughout the district.

Khattak and District Police Officer Shafiullah Gandapur formally inaugurated the campaign on Sunday by administering polio drops to children. Health officials aim to vaccinate approximately 228,000 children below the age of five across 57 union councils during the district-wide operation.

Bannu Division remains one of Pakistan’s most difficult areas for polio eradication. Four of the country’s seven confirmed cases during 2026 have been reported from the division, demonstrating that transmission remains concentrated despite a significant nationwide reduction in infections compared with previous years.

Security threats, restricted access and children repeatedly missing vaccination rounds have complicated eradication efforts in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. International health assessments have also identified Bannu as an area where operational and security problems continue to prevent vaccination teams from consistently reaching every eligible child.

The Bannu operation forms part of a wider subnational campaign targeting approximately 24 million children in 97 high-risk districts across Pakistan. More than 200,000 frontline workers are expected to participate nationally, with vaccination activities being coordinated with Afghanistan to address transmission across adjoining areas.

Polio is incurable and can cause permanent paralysis, but repeated vaccination provides effective protection. Health authorities have urged parents and caregivers to cooperate with visiting teams and ensure every child under five receives the oral vaccine even if the child has been vaccinated during an earlier campaign.

District officials will monitor enforcement of the security restrictions throughout the campaign while vaccination teams attempt to cover all targeted communities. The campaign’s success will depend on secure access, public cooperation and the ability of teams to reach children who have missed previous vaccination rounds.