Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally launched the first anti-polio drive of the year to eradicate the poliovirus from the country. A ceremony to this effect was held in Islamabad, where he administered polio drops to the children.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister expressed his determination to eradicate polio from Pakistan during the launching ceremony. He stated that millions of children will be vaccinated across the country during this campaign.

Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the coordination with Kabul through international partners, expressing hope that the poliovirus will also be eliminated from neighboring Afghanistan through mutual support. He extended his appreciation and gratitude to international partners, including WHO, UNICEF, and Saudi Arabia, for their generous support in combating fatal diseases.

Earlier, Prime Minister's Focal Person on Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, stated that over four hundred thousand polio workers, including two hundred and twenty-five thousand women vaccinators, will go door to door to vaccinate children below five years of age in Pakistan.

She noted that the polio workers will administer polio drops during the seven-day drive starting from Monday and appealed to parents to cooperate by allowing polio workers to vaccinate their children, thereby protecting them from polio and other deadly diseases.