PM Imran urges world to help Afghanistan fight polio

Published November 25, 2021
Prime Minister Imran Khan chairs a meeting of the National Task Force for Polio Eradication on Wednesday. — PID
Prime Minister Imran Khan chairs a meeting of the National Task Force for Polio Eradication on Wednesday. — PID

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the international community to help Afghanistan in its fight against polio.

Presiding over a meeting of the National Task Force for Polio Eradication on Wednesday, the prime minister emphasised that low-transmission winter season is the critical time for immunisation of children and that “we all should fight against the virus with killer instincts”.

He directed that other immunisation programmes be also synchronised with polio campaigns in order to achieve maximum coverage and effective results.

The meeting approved National Emergency Action Plan for 2022-23.

According to a statement, the meeting was apprised that PC-I amounting to $798.6 million for years 2022-26, including foreign funding and government of Pakistan share, has been finalised and is ready for approval.

The meeting was informed that Pakistan had achieved tremendous success against polio. From 84 reported cases of wild poliovirus in 2020, the incidence has come down to no case over the last 10 months.

The meeting was also apprised that the main source of wild poliovirus was Afghanistan that ended up in Pakistan due to migration of refugees.

It was informed that Pakistan would qualify for World Health Organisation’s ‘Polio Free’ certificate after completion of 36 months of zero incidence.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Rushed legislation
Updated 06 Nov, 2024

Rushed legislation

For all its stress on "supremacy of parliament", the ruling coalition has wasted no opportunity to reiterate where its allegiances truly lie.
Jail reform policy
06 Nov, 2024

Jail reform policy

THE state is making a fresh attempt to improve conditions in Pakistan’s penitentiaries by developing a national...
BISP overhaul
06 Nov, 2024

BISP overhaul

IT has emerged that the spouses of over 28,500 Sindh government employees have been illicitly benefiting from BISP....
Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....