Independent Report
QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, has reaffirmed the provincial government’s unwavering commitment to eliminating polio, emphasizing that the campaign is treated as a national priority and pursued with full seriousness. He highlighted that protecting children from the debilitating disease remains at the forefront of government initiatives, with security measures, monitoring, public awareness, and the health system coordinated to ensure comprehensive coverage.
The chief minister expressed these views during a meeting with the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, who visited Quetta on Wednesday. National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Coordinator Anwar-ul-Haq and Provincial EOC Coordinator Inam-ul-Haq also participated in the discussions.
The meeting provided a platform for both sides to review strategies for strengthening and coordinating the anti-polio campaign in Balochistan, enhancing routine immunization coverage, and addressing critical operational challenges on the ground.
Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq praised the provincial government’s dedicated efforts under Chief Minister Bugti’s leadership, noting that a unified strategy and effective field operations have begun to yield positive outcomes. She emphasized that robust collaboration between federal and provincial authorities is essential for achieving full polio eradication and confirmed that this partnership would continue to be reinforced.
Chief Minister Bugti stressed that expanding routine immunization alongside polio eradication is crucial to building a resilient health system. He reiterated the government’s firm resolve to ensure vaccination access for every child in Balochistan and committed to mobilizing all available resources to achieve a polio-free province.
Chief Secretary Balochistan, Shakeel Qadir Khan, briefed the participants on routine immunization efforts, anti-polio initiatives, inter-departmental coordination, and other administrative measures supporting the campaign.
