ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Tuesday said that after almost three decades of investment, efforts and sacrifices Pakistan was at its closest to interrupting poliovirus transmission and was heading towards finally eradicating it.
In a message on the World Polio Day, the prime minister said: “the Government of Pakistan is fully committed to winning this decisive round to ensure that our children will never again be afflicted by polio.”
The prime minister said Pakistan was one of the last three countries inflicted with the horrible poliovirus.
He said, “a polio-free world is within our grasp and we are close to our goal of complete polio eradication.”
He said Pakistan was fighting an intense final battle with the virus in selected pockets of the country.
Prime Minister Abbasi said today more than 16 million people worldwide, who would otherwise be paralysed, were able to walk – thanks to concerted polio eradication efforts. This means 500,000 people from Pakistan could walk who would otherwise have been affected, he pointed.
“Let us resolve on this World Polio Day that we will give no room for the polio virus to find any sanctuary within our communities or our homes.”
The prime minister thanked the hardworking Sehat Muhafiz who reached out to children across the length and breadth of the country.
He pointed that their dedication had played an important role towards achieving this goal.
“I would also like to sincerely thank the leadership of all the political parties, religious scholars, defence forces and security personnel for showing exemplary support towards this national cause”.
“When our people come together towards a national cause there is nothing we cannot achieve,” the prime minister said.