President Zardari has said the democratic government has taken on the challenge to eradicate polio from the country
President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said the democratic government has taken on the challenge to eradicate polio from the country seriously and expressed the hope that with the support from the international community‚ Pakistan will be made polio free country.
Talking to media persons after attending a high level meeting on the eradication of Polio from the world which was held in New York on the occasion of 67th session of the General Assembly of United Nations‚ the President said with the measures being taken by the democratic government of Pakistan would help in making a polio free country.
Bill Gates‚ Co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation‚Pakistan's Goodwill ambassador to eradicate polio Ms. Aseefa Benazir Bhutto and President Islamic Development Bank Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Madani were also present on this occasion.
President while giving his comments on the issue of eradication of polio said dictators in Pakistan in the past destroyed all the institutions including the organization fighting the issue of polio. He said now the democratically elected government had taken a number of steps and the situation has improved and expressed the hope that the program for eradication of polio would also be succeeded.
The President confidently assured the international community that Pakistan will succeed and win in this campaign to eradicate the polio from the society to ensure the safe future of coming generation.
Bill Gates‚ Co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation while appreciating the efforts of Pakistan government to eradicate polio assured full help and support in achieving the goals in this regard.
He said it is a good thing that international donors like Islamic Development Bank have been providing financial assistance and cooperation to Pakistan in the program to eradicate polio and secure the future of the children.
Appreciating the conference on eradication of polio on the occasion of 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly‚ Bill Gates said‚ "It's very encouraging that international community is serious in eradication of polio and there has been cooperation at global level in this regard."
Bill Gates‚ who had been providing financial assistance to Pakistan to eradicate polio‚ also acknowledged serious efforts and measures being taken by the present government and assured his full support and assistance till the achievements of desires results of polio free Pakistan.
Ms Aseefa Bhutto Zardari‚ Pakistan's Goodwill Ambassador while talking to newsmen said she is proud to take on the challenge to eradicate polio from Pakistan.
She said‚ "I am much honored to be here among the important persons‚ who are working together to eliminate polio from the world."
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari‚ daughter of President Asif Ali Zardari and the first women Prime Minister of the Muslim World Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto while replying to another question said‚ "I am determined to make Pakistan a polio free country."
She said it is pride as he represented here the people who are fighting polio and disability. She said‚ "I feel a special responsibility towards fighting Polio in Pakistan as the program was first launched by my mother Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto."
Aseefa said‚ "Pakistan's Ambassador for Polio Eradication‚ I am determined to carry forward the mission of my mother." She said making Pakistan a polio free country is her aim adding "to secure Pakistan's future‚ there is no option but to eradicate polio".
President Islamic Development Islamic Development Bank Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Madani‚ who announced financial assistance of dollars 227 million for Pakistan to eradicate polio‚ said there is need for more coordinated efforts to make the world polio free. During meeting with Bill Gate‚ the President said Pakistan recognizes the concerted action for elimination of polio from the country radio.
Attributing the success made so far against the Polio to the collaboration between the polio-affected countries and the international community‚ President Asif Ali Zardari has said that there was an urgent need to capitalize this unprecedented demonstration of global solidarity and shared sense of responsibility for achieving the goal of polio eradication from the world especially from those countries who were still struggling against this crippling
disease.
During his meeting with Bill Gates‚ Co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation‚ on the sidelines of 67th Session of UNGA here in New York today‚ the President said that Pakistan recognizes the need for continued and concerted action for the elimination of polio from the country and was committed to work with the international community for complete eradication of this disease. bill-gates-zardari-ap-543
The President said that Pakistan has made steady progress in eliminating Polio-virus since the first Polio Eradication Campaign which was launched in 1999 by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He said that Shaheed Bhutto's mission is now being carried forward by her daughter Ms. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari‚ the Ambassador for Polio Eradication.
He said that the Government of Pakistan has launched the Augmented National Emergency Plan in January this year for polio eradication. The President attributed upsurge in polio cases in the country to various challenges including the floods‚ security and management issues and the law enforcement
operations‚ and said that the Government was committed to take all possible measures to ensure that polio eradication drive is no further affected by these challenges.
The President thanked Mr. Bill Gates for the valuable support provided by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the cause for Polio eradication and urged for initiating projects aimed at increasing and improving education across Pakistan.
The President also invited Bill Gates to invest in IT sector of the country highlighting the great human resource potential especially the youth trained in the field of information technology and assured that the Government would provided all possible support to the Foundation.
Those were present during the meeting included Ms. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari‚ Pakistan's Goodwill Ambassador‚ Foreign Minister Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar‚ Secretary General Mr. M. Salman Faruqui‚ Ambassador Sherry Rehman‚ Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Sector Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali‚ Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program Ms. Farzana Raja and Ambassador Masood Khan.
Mr. Bill Gates was accompanied by Chris Elias‚ President of Global Development Program‚ Mark Suzman‚ Managing Director Policy Program & Advocacy‚ Jay Wenger‚ Director for Polio Program‚ and Waqar Ajmal‚ Senior Program Officer.
The President Asif Ali Zardari addressing the ECOSOC summit on polio in New York has vowed to eradicate the disease from Pakistan. pre_addressing_gathering_800
The President said it is our national priority to root out polio from the country.
He said Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had launched the anti polio campaign in Pakistan eighteen years ago.
He called for collective efforts to eradicate the disease which still persists in some countries.
President Asif Ali Zardari said human rights organizations should play their role for eradication of polio. He added terrorists are major obstacles in the way administration of polio vaccine in tribal areas.
He said that the government is convincing religious scholars and tribal elders to this regard. He said that polio cases in Pakistan have reduced by two-third in Pakistan. He noted assistance has been sought from Rotary International‚ UNICEF and WHO.pre_addressing_800
The President said that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had started the mission by administering polio drop to her daughter Aseefa Bhutto Zardari who is now leading the campaign in Pakistan.
The President said Pak Army and other security agencies have also been involved in the polio drive. He said there is real advancement in the polio campaign.
Addressing on the occasion‚ Pakistan Goodwill Ambassador for Polio eradication Aseefa Bhutto Zardari said rooting out the disease is over national mission.
She lauded the assistance from world health organization‚ UNICEF and Rotary International in making Pakistan a polio free state.
Our special correspondent Murtaza Solangi from New York reports that the World leaders including Prime Minister of Australia‚ Julia Gillard‚ Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan‚ Afghan President Hamid Karzai and donors including Bill Gates‚ Co-Chair and Trustee‚ Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation‚ and United States Secretary of Health and Human Services‚ Kathleen Sebelius are attending the event.
