On Wednesday, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the prime minister, oversaw the creation of an emergency strategy to eradicate polio and the start of integrated activities in union councils that pose a high risk of infection. He stressed the use of contemporary technology to monitor polio vaccination efforts while presiding over a meeting of the Task Force on Polio Eradication. The prime minister expressed regret that the deadly illness, which was declared eradicated worldwide, was still present in Pakistan and Afghanistan in light of the latest police case report. According to PM Kakar, research and best worldwide practises should be taken into account when using the inactivated polio virus (IPV) vaccine. He oversaw the nationwide commencement of the routine polio vaccination programme.
The prime minister praised the work of development partners and the world community to eradicate polio. He said that during a discussion with Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, on the fringes of the Conference of Parties (COP28), more collaboration on the eradication of polio was decided upon. The prime minister emphasised the need of parents, educators, and intellectuals spreading awareness about the eradication of polio. He declared that the polio vaccination was essential for children’s development, health, and future, and that everyone in society had a responsibility to contribute to the eradication of polio. In order to bring attention to the matter, he oversaw the organisation of an Ulama Convention and welcomed academics.
It was reported to the meeting that special health camps for polio had been constructed in the high-risk area of Dera Ismail Khan, and that similar camps were in the process of being established in the susceptible districts of Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Tank. 44 million youngsters have received vaccinations as a result of recent polio awareness campaigns. It was emphasised that while some union councils in the southern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are more affected, Punjab, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan are free of polio. The children at the unauthorised camps for the repatriation of Afghans in Peshawar, Nowshera, and Chaman are receiving vaccinations from polio teams, it was reported to the conference. Interim Federal Health Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan and Caretaker Chief Minister KP Justice (retired) Arshad Hussain Shah attended the meeting.
