PM announces package for martyred cop,

Islamabad_Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday inaugurated a three-day nationwide polio eradication drive by administering polio drops to the children.

In a brief ceremony held here, the prime minister said that a nationwide drive was being started to overcome the resurfacing of the polio cases.

The prime minister said that floods in the summer season had disrupted the national drive, but despite all those difficulties, the polio workers carried out the onus with their hard work and commitment.

He further observed that unfortunately, Pakistan was among the few countries where polio cases had resurfaced.

A few years back, during the government of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, these cases were completely eradicated, he added.

The prime minister said about 20 cases of polio were reported from Waziristan, but due to consistent efforts, these were restricted and controlled and did not spread to other parts.

The prime minister also lauded those frontline workers and law enforcement agencies personnel who had laid down their lives for achieving the objective and embraced shahadat.

He said that their sacrifices would always be remembered.

“I have the conviction that all the provincial governments, along with the federal government will continue collaborating to eradicate the disease forever,” he added.

The resurfacing of the few cases had certainly raised concerns among the partners including Bill Gates Foundation, World Health Organization (WHO) and other stakeholders, he added.

The prime minister said that during a telephonic conversation, Bill Gates had expressed his commitment to support the government’s efforts to eliminate the disease.

The prime minister also expressed his gratitude to the WHO, stakeholders, related departments, law enforcement personnel and the daughters of the nation for their continuing efforts and commitments.

The prime minister mentioned that he had held meetings with the federal health ministry officials and others, whereas the federal and the provincial governments were all supporting these efforts.

He expressed the confidence that they would control the disease with collective efforts.

Earlier -Prime Minister  has issued directives to prepare a shuhada package for the slain cop who was martyred during a suicide blast in Sector I-10/4, Islamabad. The prime minister also approved a financial package for the taxi driver who was killed in the suicide blast.

The prime minister approved the package for the driver in light of the investigation by law enforcement agencies. The prime minister approved a financial package of Rs10 million for the family of driver Syed Sajjad Haider Shah.

On the instructions of the prime minister, a cheque for the financial package was handed over to the family of Syed Sajjad Haider Shah. The investigation revealed that the taxi driver had no connection with the terrorists or their plan. Syed Sajjad Haider Shah’s taxi exploded in Sector I-10/4 of Islamabad on December 23.