Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially launched a seven-day nationwide anti-polio campaign by giving polio drops to children. During the event, he urged all parents to support the campaign by ensuring their children are vaccinated, which is essential for wiping out the virus from Pakistan.

He expressed confidence that, with joint efforts, Pakistan can successfully eliminate polio. The Prime Minister also mentioned that strong security measures have been put in place to protect polio workers in the field. He stressed the importance of public awareness and community involvement in the fight against polio.

Shehbaz Sharif also thanked international partners, especially the World Health Organization and the Gates Foundation, for their ongoing support in Pakistan’s efforts to end polio.

Earlier in the day, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal remarked that Afghanistan is currently ahead of Pakistan in its fight against polio and could potentially eliminate it first. Speaking at the 6th International Medical Research Conference in Karachi, he expressed hope that both countries could achieve this goal together.

Kamal also pointed out that while Pakistan is conducting significant medical research, there is a lack of practical implementation. He suggested that mobile technology could help solve many of the country’s healthcare issues. He further highlighted weaknesses in the primary and secondary healthcare systems, noting that most patients end up in major hospitals because of these gaps.