Anti-vaxxers partner with forces of darkness: Kakar

ISLAMABAD: Pledging to resist the individuals propagating against the polio vaccination, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Tuesday resolved to achieve the dream of a polio-free Pakistan by carrying forward the journey with unshakeable commitment.

“I can assure that we gonna have it. We will realise this dream. We will never step back, may be an inch, may be a foot or may be a mile. This will always be a forthgoing journey,” the prime minister said while addressing a ceremony here to mark the World Polio Day. The event was organized by the Pakistan Polio Programme to pay homage to the resilience and dedication of frontline workers on the World Polio Day, which is commemorated on October 24 every year.

Federal Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan, Federal Health Secretary Iftikhar Ali Shalwani, representatives of polio partners Rotary, World Health Organisation, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and frontline workers and their families were in attendance.

The prime minister said by opposing the polio vaccine, the anti-vaxxers, intentionally or unintentionally, were partnering with the forces of darkness. He emphasised the role of faith leaders and the society to make such people realise that they were actually partnering with the destroyer of the humans. “This is unacceptable. We will resist this,” he resolved. He expressed his gratitude to the global partners who continued to support Pakistan in its endeavour of polio eradication.

Recognising the sacrifices of polio workers and the security personnel guarding them, the prime minister said they had paid the highest price for the cause. He said the frontline health workers were the heroes of Pakistan, who were working in challenging environments, facing social barriers and even threats to their safety without ever losing their dedication.

The prime minister recognised the services of three police constables who were martyred while on polio duty and to two vaccinators who were injured. He also presented appreciation shields to the former coordinator of the Sindh Emergency Operation Cell (EOC) Fayyaz Abbasi and the family of Huma Ashraf, who was severely injured in a train accident while on polio duty in September.

The prime minister also announced to personally visit Huma as a gesture to recognise her services in the mission of a polio-free Pakistan. “Today is the day to remember how far we have come and how crucial polio eradication efforts remain. Pakistan cannot be the reason to hold the world back. We must move forward to 2024 with the realisation that the weight of global eradication lies on our shoulders. “We must leave no room for the virus to spread and reach every child with the vaccine before the virus has a chance to permanently change their lives,” he remarked.

WHO Representative in Pakistan Palitha Mahipala said the Day was observed to commemorate the global journey. He said the polio eradication was one of the major commitments made by WHO which provided technical support to Pakistan. He said the day was not far when Pakistan would get rid of the crippling disease within next few years as the number of paralysis had sharply declined.

UNICEF Chief Polio Officer Melissa Corkum said the credit for the successes went to the health workers who despite challenges went door to door in every campaign. She said the Day was not only to commemorate the successes but also to remember those who sacrificed their lives during the struggle.

Meanwhile, the caretaker prime minister Tuesday said the areas ranging from Khunjerab Pass to Swat offered huge potential of tourism which could lead to revenue generation after improvement in necessary infrastructure and facilities.

In this regard, he said, cooperation from the Chinese companies and the Pakistani business community could prove helpful in the promotion of tourism sector.

The prime minister expressed these views as Murtaza Hashwani, renowned businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Services Limited called on him here at the PM House.

Hashwani proposed to the prime minister for collaboration between the government and the business community at the platform of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

Meanwhile, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Planning Minister Sami Saeed Tuesday discussed the implementation of projects which signed during the prime minister’s recent visit to China.

During PM Kakar’’s visit to China from October 16 to 20, the two sides signed 20 agreements and memoranda of understanding, covering cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative, infrastructure, mining, industry, green and low-carbon development, health, space cooperation, digital economy, development cooperation and export of agricultural products to China.