Islamabad: Prime Minster Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to ensure that every child under the age of five receives polio vaccine during the anti-polio campaign beginning from 21st April.
PM Shehbaz Sharif was chairing a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday to review the anti-polio campaign. The Prime Minister directed for 100 percent nationwide provision of routine vaccination for immunization against other dangerous diseases.
He also called for grass root level awareness and community mobilization for the polio campaign.
Appreciating the work of polio teams, the Prime Minister said the entire nation is proud of them as they are performing frontline role in the fight against this deadly disease under difficult circumstances.
The Prime Minister also lauded the role of national and international agencies and partners for polio eradication.
The meeting was briefed that anti-polio campaign will begin from Monday and will continue till Sunday next and 4.5 million children across the country will be vaccinated during the campaign.
Over four hundred and fifteen thousand polio workers will participate in this nationwide campaign.
The meeting was further informed that on the instructions of the Prime Minister, third-party validation of the campaign will be done from 28th to 30th of this month.
The meeting was briefed that not a single polio case has been reported in the country since February this year while the cold chain tracking of the anti-polio campaigns is being monitored under a digital system.
Meanwhile the government has decided to digitize the national economy, with all ministries tasked with implementing the measures for digitization.
The decision to this effect was taken at a high level review meeting held in Islamabad on Thursday with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.
In line with the decision, the Prime Minister directed the relevant authorities to immediately establish a dynamic working group for implementing and monitoring the measures for digitization.
He said improving the country's economy and eliminating parallel informal economy is a key component of the government's reform agenda.
The Prime Minister said reforms are being carried out at the level of coordinated and institutional levels so that the change is sustainable and long-lasting.
He appreciated the successful digital wallet system through which delivery of the Ramadan package was made and gave instructions to use it in more sectors.
The meeting was informed that an ICT application has been launched in Islamabad capital territory, which provides access to more than 150 government services.
The meeting was further informed that the volume of payments through Rast Gateway has increased significantly, while the government, in collaboration with the State Bank, is taking steps to increase its use in daily transactions.
The meeting was informed that the government is ensuring the collection of digital payments, providing various facilities to buyers and businesses to encourage digital payments as opposed to cash, completely digitizing government payments.
It was told that all official payments of the federal government, including salaries and other billing, are being made under the digital system.