Inaugurating the "International Conference on Dengue", Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Thursday that political leadership is duty-bound to provide moral, financial and administrative support for health and safety of citizens while the line departments are responsible to ensure implementation of the devised plan.

"The government is engaged in devising a permanent solution to overcome dengue instead of taking some temporary steps and the government is fully committed to providing a healthy atmosphere to the citizens," the CM said while addressing the participants of the moot held under the aegis of Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department at a local hotel on Thursday.

The Chief Minister reiterated that timely eradication of dengue and other deadly diseases is priority of the Punjab government which is working to minimize the negative effects of dengue disease. He hoped that the government's efforts will bear fruits and this international conference would prove a game-changer event for the eradication of dengue disease.

The CM said that dengue disease has affected several countries including Pakistan and assured that the government would continue working hard for complete eradication of this disease. He told the audience that he visited different districts last year to monitor the field situation. More than 20,000 dengue cases surfaced in Punjab in 2011 and around 350 died. Dengue again surfaced in Punjab in 2019 and Rawalpindi was the worst-hit district. "I was very much aggrieved over the loss of lives due to dengue in 2019," he said.

He appreciated the services of assembly members, civil society as well as politicians for the eradication of dengue and said that protection of citizens' health is a responsibility of the government.

The inaugural session was also addressed by Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, Secretary Capt Muhammad Usman (R) and WHO Pakistan representative Dr Palitha Mahipala. Health Advisor Hanif Pitafi, foreign experts, vice-chancellors of medical colleges, doctors and scientists attended the conference. Moreover, the CM has sought a report from the health department about surfacing of a polio case in DG Khan.

He expressed indignation over the performance of line departments and asserted that surfacing of poliovirus is a very serious matter. He will not tolerate any negligence in the anti-polio campaign, he warned.

"It is our collective responsibility to safeguard the future of the country and coordinated efforts should be made to improve the situation," he said. "It is our mission to make Pakistan polio-free and line departments will have to work with more zeal to save the children from polio."