PM Shehbaz reaffirms resolve to eradicate polio in Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed the resolve to completely eradicate polio from the country, state-run Radio Pakistan said on Wednesday.

According to the report, he made the remarks while speaking to Gates Foundation Global Development President Chris Elias in Islamabad.

“The government is implementing a comprehensive strategy and taking practical actions with an effective team,” the report quoted him as saying.

The premier also expressed deep gratitude for the collaboration of Bill Gates and Saudi Arabia in the fight against polio, it said.

It stated that despite significant progress in the fight against polio, PM Shehbaz emphasised that emergency measures were “still necessary”.

According to Radio Pakistan, PM Shehbaz said, “The federal government is working in full coordination with the provinces to ensure the accessibility of polio teams throughout the country under an effective strategy.”

“He said relevant projects under the Public Sector Development Programme for the polio eradication campaign will continue across the country,” it added.

The state-run broadcaster said that the Gates Foundation official appreciated the prime minister’s “personal attention to polio eradication and the effective measures taken in this regard”.

“He recognised that Pakistan is taking effective steps toward complete polio eradication, which are progressing towards success,” it said.

Elias further said that there would be continued constructive consultation with federal, provincial governments and relevant institutions on polio eradication, the report added.

The development comes a day after a high-level delegation from the Gates Foundation visited the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), where Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Programme reiterated its resolve to achieve the Roadmap to Zero Polio 2026.