PM Shehbaz calls for enhanced efforts to achieve polio-free Pakistan

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that the persistence of polio in Pakistan and its neighbouring countries was a moment of introspection, urging the government authorities as well as the polio workers to put in their enhanced efforts to purge the country of this crippling disease.

“Let’s brace ourselves and accept the challenge and start running, and achieve the trophy, which we’re all wanting to have sooner rather than later. If the whole world can become polio-free, except Pakistan and our neighbouring country, I think it’s a moment of introspection,” the prime minister sai,d addressing a ceremony held in connection with the World Polio Day here.

The prime minister, who also distributed appreciation shields among the polio workers, appreciated their courage and unwavering commitment to achieve polio-free Pakistan, saying that the nation owed huge gratitude to all of them.

The event was attended by Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Focal Person Polio Ayesha Raza Farooq, and representatives of international partners, including WHO and UNICEF.

Appreciating the role and contributions of the international partners, he said that the polio field workers had done a “remarkable” job in these preceding years, risking their lives at times in areas where polio eradication had become a challenge.

The prime minister urged the health minister and focal person to further solidify their efforts and bring fame to Pakistan by eradicating the disease.

He particularly thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for contributing a huge amount of around half a billion dollars in collaboration with the Bill Gates Foundation to be spent over the next few years for polio eradication.

“And I think this window of opportunity is limited. Let’s not waste it…Suffice it to say that time and tide wait for none,” he said and prayed to Allah Almighty for a safe and healthy future for the children of the country.