RAWALPINDI: The anti-polio drive will be kicked off tomorrow (Dec 19) in Rawalpindi District and will continue till December 23. So far this year 18 cases have been reported in all over the country. This year endemic countries total 34 cases were reported while Pakistan is at the top with 18, Afghanistan 12 and Nigeria 4. In Pakistan, worst effected province was KP with 9 cases, Sindh with 6, FATA 2, Baluchistan 1 and Punjab with zero case. This information was shared by District Coordination Officer Talat Mahmood Gondal while inaugurating the launching ceremony of Anti-polio drive at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here on Saturday. DCO said that Rawalpindi due to its key geographical location is very prone to Polio virus due to the inter-district and Inter-province mobilization, especially people coming to Rawalpindi from KPK, FATA and other. “We are very committed and active to eradicate the menace of polio virus throughout the country, “he added. Earlier President RCCI Raja Amer Iqbal in his welcome address gave a short briefing to participants on RCCI current and future events. He said that this is very alarming that Pakistan ranked number 1 in polio cases globally. Its our collective responsibility to eradicate this menace. A comprehensive strategy is required to address this issue. He assured his full support and cooperation in this regard. Senior vice President Rashid Waien, Vice President Asim Malik, former president Mian Humayun Parvez, chairman standing committee on health Nosherwan Khan and a large number of traders and representatives from the health department, UNICEF and WHO were also present on the occasion.