Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the eradication of polio, saying security for vaccination teams has been stepped up following the recent terrorist attacks on them. “We are investing substantial financial and human resources to rid the country of polio,” Pakistan’s Ambassador Masood Khan told the Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). “Pakistan attaches highest importance to polio eradication,” he said after the board approved Pakistan’s Common Country Programme Document (CCPD) for the period 2013-2017. “We look forward to its effective implementation through strong collaboration amongst relevant government agencies and UNICEF Pakistan.” Khan pointed out that despite “egregious” terrorist attacks against polio workers, the Pakistani government, all relevant institutions and civil society were persevering in the anti-polio campaign. “Additional steps have been taken to ensure the safety and security of vaccination teams,” he said. “UNICEF is an important partner in our efforts to achieve a world free of polio.” Thanking the ambassador, UNICEF’s Executive Director Anthony Lake lauded Pakistan’s commitment to fighting polio.
