Two policemen who were on duty to safeguard the polio team were killed when unidentified assailants opened fire at them in Balochistan’s Quetta city on Tuesday, the police said.

They were attacked in the Shalam Kali area of the provincial capital. The polio team was reported to be safe in the attack. A heavy contingent of police and FC reached the site of the incident and cordoned off the area.

Two to three policemen are posted with every polio team as part of the security measures in view of the rising threat against polio workers.

Polio teams were attacked whenever polio campaigns are started in the suburban areas of the city, according to Aaj News correspondent.

The development comes when a campaign was under way to administer polio vaccination to approximately 2.6 million children under five years of age across Balochistan.

As many as 11,539 teams of health workers have been formed for the seven-day campaign.

In March, Pakistan reported its first case of polio in 2023. Districts in southern KP and Balochistan, which lies along the Pak-Afghan border, are considered to be the virus hotspots.