Govt committed to eradicating polio: Shehbaz

LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating polio from the country and announced the launch of a fresh 7-day national anti-polio campaign for millions of children under age five.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the campaign here, the prime minister said the government, along with the health authorities, was making tireless efforts to eliminate the virus once and for all.

“Today marks the beginning of another nationwide polio campaign. With Allah’s grace, we are vaccinating children not only here, but also across the country including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir,” he said.

He personally administered polio drops to children to formally kick off the campaign, which will conclude on April 27. “I urge all parents to fully cooperate with the field teams to ensure every child is vaccinated,” he added.

Acknowledging the challenges in some security-sensitive areas, he said robust measures had been taken to ensure the safety of teams and smooth implementation of the drive. “We must mobilize communities in every neighborhood and street to support this national cause,” he emphasized.

The premier also extended heartfelt thanks to international partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Bill Gates, and other stakeholders for their continued support.

“With your cooperation and our collective resolve, I am confident we will achieve permanent relief from this dangerous disease,” he said.

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and senior health officials were present at the event.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday expressed pleasure over the start of PIA’s direct flights from Lahore to Baku saying direct flights with other friendly countries would also be started very soon.

In a statement, the premier said direct flights from Lahore to Baku was a big achievement for Pakistan at the diplomatic level and it will help promote the tourism sector.

“Azerbaijan is among the best friends of Pakistan in this region and we want to collaborate with it in tourism and other sectors,” he added.