Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has taken notice of the very poor results of anti-polio drive in Balochistan and the Balochistan government has been asked in writing to ensure meeting targets of National Emergency Plan in this regard.
Well-informed sources in the Federal Government told APP here on Friday that Prime Minister Gilani is concerned over critical situation of polio campaigning in Balochistan as many as 26 polio cases had been detected in the province and hence there are very poor results of the drive to eradicate the viral disease. "Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Khushnood Akhtar Lashari had written a letter to Chief Secretary Balochistan Mir Ahmed Bakhsh Lehri that the Prime Minister has taken notice of the critical situation in Balochistan with regard to meeting targets identified in the National Emergency Plan," sources said.
They said that the Federal Government is concerned over the continued strike and non-co-operation of paramedics which have become a major impediment in anti-polio drive in Quetta block. "The Federal Government urged the Balochistan government to take action against poor performance in last six SIAs in this year," sources said adding that the provincial government had been advised to take immediate action in this regard by convening a meeting of all stakeholders so that the forthcoming campaign is conducted in a smooth manner.
The sources further said that the Federal Government was unsatisfied with the performance of deputy commissioners and other stakeholders in Balochistan who showed very poor response to the drive. "Now decision has been taken to involve police and Levies Force to remove hindrances in the anti-polio campaign in order to get desired results," they said adding that religious scholars and community leaders would also be activated to raise awareness against the menace. Meanwhile, a senior official of UNICEF present on the occasion told APP that so far 26 polio cases had been detected from districts of Balochistan including Pishin, Quetta, Khudar, Qilla Abdullah, Dera Bugti, Kohlu and Noshki.