LETTER: This is apropos a Business Recorder editorial "Africa polio-free, and Pakistan?" carried by the newspaper yesterday. Not only does the headline of editorial present a sardonic comment on our status in the comity of national insofar as the challenge of polio is concerned, it has also come up with a profound argument on successive governments' profoundly flawed approach to the polio challenge: "While Africa and the world can justifiably celebrate the victory over polio, the troubling question remains why the virus is still active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the last two countries still afflicted. ... But there have also been persistent reports over the years of religious fanatics parroting the 'conspiracy theories' mentioned above and leaning on public opinion and parents in their areas of influence to refuse vaccinations...."

It is indeed a matter of grave concern that as of 17th August 2020, there have been 65 documented cases in the country in 2020.

It is about time the government stepped up its polio campaign with a view to eliminating this scourge once and for all.

Naveed Bashir (Karachi)