Summary The federal cabinet discusses polio eradication strategy, economic situation and Budget 2014-15.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the Federal Cabinet meeting here on Thursday.
The meeting was briefed on the measures to eradicate polio virus from the country.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar briefed the meeting on the strategy for Budget 2014-15. The meeting was told that the economy was showing positive indicators.
Addressing the meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed to launch a vigorous media campaign and measures on war-footing to make Pakistan polio-free. The PM said he would personally monitor the polio eradication campaign.
Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan Army would provide security to polio vaccination teams in Waziristan and Khyber Agency.
The PM said that the international community and financial institutions were showing interest and expressing their confidence in Pakistan after improving economic situation in the country.
On the other hand, the decision has been taken to deploy army in the tribal areas as well as the borders of the settled areas.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday issued orders that each person travelling from tribal areas will have to be vaccinated before entering the settled areas. The army will be deployed to implement the decision at the borders of the settled areas.
Over a two million children have been deprived of vaccination in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The PM also directed National Coordinator for Anti-Polio Campaign Ayesha Raza to call on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor in this regard.
Earlier, Ayesha Raza Farooq briefed the Prime Minister on World Health Organisation s (WHO) requirements regarding vaccination prior to travel abroad and initiatives taken at federal and provincial levels to make the campaign successful.
Pakistan s failure to stem the spread of polio triggered global emergency health measures this month, with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending all residents must show proof of vaccination before they can leave the country.
Pakistan is in the spotlight as the only country with endemic polio that saw cases rise last year.
On May 13, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging all the lawmaker to ensure implementation of polio immunization programme in their respective constituencies.
Polio passes easily from person to person and can spread rapidly among children, especially in the kind of unsanitary conditions endured by displaced people in war-torn regions, refugee camps and areas where health care is limited.
The virus invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours. The WHO has repeatedly warned that as long as any single child remains infected with polio, children everywhere are at risk.
There is no cure for the disease but it can be prevented by immunization. The polio vaccine, administered multiple times, can protect a child for life.
