QUETTA – Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani has said that complete eradication of polio from the country is a challenge for the provincial government, therefore, emergency should be imposed in the disease-hit districts, which include Killa Abdullah and Pishin, and steps should be taken on war-footing to curb the virus.
He said this addressing to a high-levl meeting to review the developments regarding the anti-polio campaigns in the province. He also stressed upon the MNAs and MPAs of the area to personally monitor the polio campaign in their areas.
The CM expressed his deepest concerns over the emergence of polio virus P-2 cases in Qilla Abdullah and directed an investigation into the causes of the spread of the virus. Rejecting a briefing from the concerned authorities, Raisani said it was not a time of briefings but that of practical steps. He further said that it was a matter of grave concern for the government that polio cases were emerging in Balochistan. “All the children of province are like my own children and if a single child is affected by this menace, I feel the utmost pain for it and consider myself responsible for it,” the chief minister said.
He further said if the government could not fulfil its responsibility, it had to face accountability. He further added: “Our job is to provide policy and resources and concerned departments job was to implement those policies, therefore, the officers and the officials, who will not act responsibly, would face stern action.”
The chief minister directed that he should be provided report regarding anti-polio campaign on daily basis.
It was decided in the meeting that three anti-polio campaigns on 10th of December, 24th and 2nd January next year would be carried out in the affected districts.