POLIO ERADICATION FROM PAKISTAN IS OUR HIGH PRIORITY: CHAIRMAN SENATE

Islamabad: 28th May, 2012
Chairman Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari has said that eradication of polio from country is an area of high priority for the present government as only healthy child can become productive citizen and useful member of society and can contribute to national development. He was expressing these views in a meeting with delegation of Rotary International led by the President Kalyan Banerjee.
The Chairman told the delegation that in Islamabad there is decline of number of polio cases but 4 Katchi abadis and suburbs have polio cases along with influx of affected people from other parts of country also raises number of polio affected people. He said that ICT and CDA administration is trying to eradicate polio from the areas of their respective jurisdiction. He emphasized the point that we will not tolerate any negligence in this regard. He told the Rotarians that polio campaign going well except in FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and there is dire need for proactive role of Senators from these areas for awareness generation and boosting the polio eradication campaign.
The president told the Chairman that Rotarians are actively involved in polio eradication campaign around the world, assisting local community for better sanitation and ensuring supply of clear drinking water. In Pakistan, our top priority is to fulfill our commitment to children and save children by finishing polio. We have around 1.2 billion dollars for polio eradication in the world and 100 million dollars allocated for Pakistan but there is still existing gap of 24 million dollars, he added. He stressed the need for active involvement of Senators of the most affected areas like FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa in their villagers and towns via engaging their communities.
He told the Chairman that high level of commitment exists in Pakistan but little more ownership particularly at implementation side (DDO / EDO levels) can produce better results. He told the Chairman that Karachi, Pasin and FATA are reservoirs of polio and we have to grab them on urgent footing. One of the delegates from Pakistan told the Chairman that effective TV campaign utilizing services of Shahid Afridi in Pusto is already on board to push the message across
for polio eradication for next NID. Services of stars like Aisam-ul-Haq and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and other renowned artists of the country can be sought for this national cause.
The Chairman offered all-out assistance to Rotarians for this cause and said that strong collaboration between government of Pakistan and Rotarians can help eradicate this menace of polio for once and all from the country. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan is one the three countries along with Nigeria and Afghanistan who have still to end the polio cases while rest of the world including India, have successfully eradicate it.
The delegates from Rotary International included RI President Kalyan Banerjee, Binota Jee (First Lady of Rotary International), Dr. Perves Ahsan (District Governor Rotary 3272, Pakistan & Afghanistan), Maimoona Pervez (Spouse of District Governor), Aziz Memon (Past District Governor & National Chair for Polio Plus), Shakil Ansari (Past District Governor & Chairman Eastern Mediterranean Regional Polio Plus Committee), Iftikhar Ahmed (District Governor Elect), Shehzad Ahmed Mir (Past President), Rotarian Iftikhar Awan, President Elect Rotarian Ibrahim and President Rotary Club Islamabad cosmopolitan Rotarian Dr. Abdul Basit. Secretary Senate Mr. Iftikharullah Babar was also present on the occasion.

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