All the federating units agree to undertake joint efforts, under the leadership of PM Shehbaz, to eradicate polio from the country
KARACHI, August 09 (SABAH): All the federating units have agreed to undertake joint efforts, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to eradicate polio from the country.
This resolve was expressed at a review meeting regarding the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program held in Karachi on Friday with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.
All four provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, reiterated their commitment to polio eradication.
Chairman Gates Foundation Bill Gates and President of Global Development Dr. Chris Elias attended the meeting through video link.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his iron resolve to completely eradicate poliovirus from the country. He said the whole of the government approach has been adopted to eliminate polio with a resolve to fully eradicate this deadly disease by 2025.
PM Shehbaz Sharif directed utilization of all state resources for the complete eradication of polio from the country. He advised to administer multiple dosages to every child in Pakistan. He further advised that the administration of the polio vaccine should be ensured to every child in areas where security is a challenge.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan, with the dedication of frontline polio workers, the determination of the government, and the cooperation of partners, has made significant progress against the poliovirus.
Bill Gates commended the government’s efforts for polio eradication. He expressed satisfaction with the growing ratio of polio-vaccinated children in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said it is a welcoming sign that the government of Pakistan has formulated a plan to administer an inactivated poliovirus vaccine to four million children. He said usually polio cases continue to surface till the complete elimination of the disease and his foundation will continue supporting government efforts for the eradication of this disease.
The Prime Minister said reports of new polio cases are a matter of great concern but we will defeat this disease with the cooperation of provincial governments and other partners.
He thanked the Bill Gates Foundation and other partners for its extraordinary assistance and cooperation in the healthcare sector of Pakistan, especially anti-polio efforts.
The meeting was briefed about the anti-polio strategy. It was said that one case each in the Districts of Killa Abdullah and Chakwal has recently been reported. It was informed that the Quetta and Karachi divisions are the epicenters of the polio spread. It further said that the anti-polio monitoring system is being improved.
The meeting was briefed that there has been a positive progress in increasing coordination and harmony between Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent the spread of the poliovirus. It was informed that a countrywide polio vaccine campaign will be launched in September, October, and December this year.
Among others, federal ministers, the Governor and the Chief Minister of Sindh attended the meeting.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says government has taken various initiatives to improve agriculture sector.
Addressing inaugural ceremony of 2nd International Food and Agriculture Exhibition in Karachi on Friday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said agriculture exports of Pakistan have reached over three billion dollars and it is time we fix our next target to seven billion dollars of agriculture exports.
He said government is also taking initiatives to provide facilities to the farmers.
He said over eighteen thousand tube-wells in Balochistan are being shifted to solar power besides other steps.
He said providing easy loans to the farmers in the rural areas will also help increase the agri production in the country.
Earlier, Prime Minister also distributed awards among agriculture exporters with prominent achievements.