ISLAMABAD, July 24: As many as 30 points on Pak-Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkwa and Balochistan have been identified for polio immunisation in view of the rapid cross-border movement of people from both the sides.

More than I.2 million children less than five years of age cross the border each year while around three million Afghan refugees live in the two provinces.

According to an official of the prime minister’s polio cell, the polio points were established as per discussions between special assistant to the prime minister Shahnaz Wazir Ali and Afghan minister for public health Dr Suraya Dalil and minister for border affairs Asadullah Khalid.

Ms Wazir is on a three-day official visit to Kabul to discuss the tightening of cross-border vaccination regime in both the countries.

“We need to develop joint strategies to strengthen monitoring and surveillance in the bordering areas besides providing vaccination services to each and every eligible child crossing over from both sides,” she was quoted in a press release issued by the Prime Minister Secretariat on Tuesday.

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are the last three countries harbouring the polio virus.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are also the only Muslim countries with the disease with Saudi Arabia clamping travel restrictions on pilgrims from both the countries who have to take mandatory polio immunisation before entering the holy land.