KARACHI: Some 350 people from across Karachi and belonging to various sports groups took part in a cycling, running and walking event organised by the National PolioPlus Commi­ttee, Rotary Pakistan, a cycling group Cycologists, Rotaract and Emergency Operations Center Sindh on Saturday as part of the polio awareness campaign.

The World Polio Day is celebrated worldwide on Oct 24 every year. Pakistan is among the two remaining countries in the world where polio is still categorised as an endemic viral infection.

The 15km cycle ride started from Szabist University’s parking area in Clifton and paced towards Seaview to return to Szabist.

Similarly; the walking and running activity was held on the main Clifton Road starting from the Szabist parking again to Schon Circle and onwards to Park Towers and back to the Szabist parking lot.

National PolioPlus Committee chairman Aziz Memon, who was present on the occasion, educated the participants on the significance of polio vaccine and about how it could prevent lifelong disability.

Mr Memon also apprised them about the recent polio situation in Pakistan and the efforts being taken by the committee to combat and stop polio virus transmission in Pakistan.

The event concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2020