Pakistan on way to progress, we will have to make it polio-free: PM

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the country is on the way to progress and they will have to make it polio-free in this journey. Addressing a ceremony after inaugurating the anti-polio drive on Friday, he urged the mothers to administer the anti-polio drops to their children at any cost. He said that 40 million children under five will be administered anti-polio drops by 260,000 polio staff during the campaign. “Pakistan is among the very few countries that still have traces of polio, despite numerous successes rendered by polio staff.” Imran Khan said polio is a crippling disease with lot of repercussions on the population. Earlier, Special Assistant on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza said polio remains a national emergency for them. He said this year 98 polio cases have been reported in the country. Dr Zafar Mirza said that 326 polio cases were reported in 2014 in the country and the figure was brought down to 12 last year. However, due to a number of factors, the polio cases again surfaced. He said all the shortcomings identified in the polio administration are being overcome. “Anti-polio drives have national agenda and not of any political party.” He expressed commitment to completely remove the virus of polio from the country in the coming years.