PRESIDENT ZARDARI: Eradication of Polio is foremost priority of government

Radio Pakistan

President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated that eradication of Polio is the foremost priority of the government. He was talking to a delegation comprising representatives of international partners against polio eradication which called on him in Islamabad on Saturday. The President said we have made polio eradication campaign a cross party issue and all the political parties and societal forces are now supporting the cause. Referring to situation in tribal areas and some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa‚ the President said that the Government was making efforts with the support of political and religious leaders and other notables of the areas to reach out even in those areas where inaccessibility and security issues had hampered polio campaigns in the past. The President thanked the international community for complementing the government's efforts to save our children from the menace of polio. He said that the government‚ the people and the children of Pakistan are also thankful to all our international partners who were providing every assistance in complete elimination of the disease. Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said they discussed steps taken for polio eradication during the meeting. The delegation lauded the personal interest of the President towards efforts for eradicating the menace of Polio from the country. The delegation assured their continued support in the cause of eradicating Polio from the country. During the meeting‚ the President also telephoned Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and requested him to meet the delegation to discuss issues related to resistance in Polio campaign by some on ideological grounds. Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said that the delegation is welcome to meet him.