Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed that the government is taking practical steps through a comprehensive strategy and an effective team to completely eliminate polio from Pakistan at the earliest.
He spoke with the Chairman of the Global Development Gates Foundation, Dr. Chris Elias, who along with his delegation visited him at the PM House.
The Prime Minister expressed the government’s determination that Pakistan will continue its efforts, with the support of trusted partners like the Gates Foundation, until polio is completely eradicated from the country.
“Bill Gates’ invaluable services for the eradication of polio in Pakistan will always be remembered,” he said, adding that Pakistan was deeply grateful for the cooperation of Bill Gates and brotherly Muslim countries, especially Saudi Arabia, in efforts to eradicate polio.
Despite significant successes in the ongoing fight against the disease, the Prime Minister stressed that urgent new measures were essential.
He said the Federal Government was working in full coordination with the provinces to ensure access for polio teams across the country, adding that relevant projects under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the anti-polio campaign would continue.
The Prime Minister also directed the Federal Ministry of Health to make recommendations, in coordination with all relevant institutions, to raise public awareness and provide vaccines linked to polio eradication.
Chairman of the Gates Foundation for Global Development Chris Elias said the Foundation greatly appreciates the Prime Minister’s personal attention to polio eradication and the effective practical measures taken in this regard.
