Samples taken in April from Lahore and Karachi have been tested positive for polio virus.
A private news channel reported on Tuesday that according to a report by World Health Organisation (WHO), the sewage samples collected from Lahore and Karachi were tested positive for the virus.
The samples had been taken from Lahore’s main outfall pumping stations and Gadap, Khemso Goth, Machar Colony and Gulshan e Iqbal areas Karachi.
Earlier this year, Peshawar was declared the largest reservoir of endemic poliovirus in the world by the WHO but samples from the city were tested negative for the virus.
On Monday, two new cases of polio emerged in Karachi and North Waziristan Agency.
This year, 61 polio cases have been confirmed in Pakistan, so far. Five cases were reported from Sindh, nine from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 47 from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
PARLIAMENTARIANS CALL FOR STRATEGY TO COMBAT POLIO: Speaking on a motion moved by Shazia Mari of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the National Assembly on Tuesday, parliamentarians from the treasury and opposition stressed the need to evolve a joint strategy to combat the menace of polio in the country.
The parliamentarians pressed for a comprehensive legislation to punish parents who failed to get their children vaccinated against the crippling disease. Parliamentarians Gul Afridi and Shahabuddin said legislation should be enacted compelling the parents to ensure administration of polio vaccination to children.
Participating in the debate, Asiya Naz Tanoli urged all legislators to ensure polio vaccination in their respective constituencies and called for joint efforts for the success of ongoing Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) campaign.
Shireen Mazari said an enquiry should be conducted to ascertain the reasons for the failure of the polio vaccination campaign in the country.
“The federal and provincial governments have already joined hands to combat the menace of polio,” announced Mian Abdul Mannan.
Shahida Rehmani stressed the need for providing complete security to polio workers, adding that “there is a need to exterminate the menace of terrorism from the country”.
Abdul Rahim Mandokhel said that the people involved in attacking polio workers should be awarded exemplary punishments.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai urged the House to unanimously adopt a resolution for eradication of polio from the country.
Nighat Shakil opined that polio vaccination should be made mandatory for every child visiting a hospital.
Shehryar Afridi called for the provision of transport services to polio drops administrators.
Jamalud Din said a detailed action plan should be evolved to ensure administration of polio drops to children.
“The reservations over polio vaccination have erupted after the case of Dr Shakil Afridi,” said Afzal Dhandla. He urged religious scholars and the media to play their roles in polio eradication.
“All stake holders should join hands to eradicate polio,” said Sahibzada Yaqoob, adding that the disease was crippling the nation’s children.