List of days of the year

23 February - “Islamabad’ declared as new capital of Pakistan in 1960

 


On February 23, 1960, the Federal Cabinet of Pakistan decided to designate the new capital of the country as "Islamabad." Prior to this decision, since Pakistan gained independence in 1947, Karachi had served as the capital. However, due to various reasons, including the geographical location and strategic considerations, it was decided to move the capital to a more central location.

Islamabad, which means "City of Islam" in Urdu, was chosen as the new capital. The city was purposefully built to replace Karachi and officially became the capital on August 14, 1963. The decision to establish Islamabad as the capital was part of broader efforts to develop a new, well-planned city that could better serve as the administrative and political center of Pakistan.

 

23 February - The first mass inoculation of children against polio with the Salk vaccine began in Pittsburgh.

 


On February 23, 1954, the first large-scale trial of the polio vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The trial involved nearly 2 million children, known as the "Polio Pioneers," who received the vaccine. This marked a significant step in the fight against polio, a debilitating and potentially deadly disease that had caused widespread fear and epidemics. The success of the trial eventually led to the widespread use of the Salk vaccine, which played a crucial role in the near-eradication of polio in many parts of the world.