Pak-Afghan joint efforts can eliminate polio of the region: Governors KP, Nangarhar
our correspondent
KHYBER
Governors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman and Ziaul Haq Amar Khel of Nangarhar province of Afghanistan said that time has come to eliminate the curse of polio of the region.
With joint efforts of the two neighboring countries bilateral ties can be further enhanced that will be beneficiary for the people of the both countries.
These views were expressed by both Governors while addressing a gathering held here at Pak-Afghan sharing border, Torkham in connection with world polio day here on Saturday.
The activity was arranged by Emergency Operation Center,KP that was attended beside the Governors as chief guests by provincial health minister Temur Saleem Jhagra ,Chief Secretary Dr,Kazim Naiz,Deputy Commissioner Khyber Mehmood Aslam,sector commander Brigadier Shaukat officials of health, administration, EPI and partner organizations beside highups of Afghanistan.
Governor Shah Farman said that Pakistan was the worst effectee of war in Afghanistan and thus it had always supported a political solution to the conflict rather than a military one.
Pakistan was committed to peaceful, stable, united sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan and collectively they would beat the menace of polio, he added.
“Pakistan is enthusiastic to further improve out relations with Afghanistan,” he added and vowed that factors responsible for disturbing the bilateral ties would be removed.
He maintained that the people of the both countries shared the same culture, tradition, religion etc, therefore Pakistan as a good gesture established hospitals in Kabul,Jalalabad and Logar provinces of Afghanistan to facilitate the ailing masses of the country.
Governor Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, Ziaul Haq Amar Khel said that it was ironic of the time Pakistan and Afghanistan were among those three countries in the countries in the world where polio virus still prevailed.
He added that last year 53 polo positive cases had been recorded mostly in remote areas of Afghanistan where anti-polio campaigns could not be carried out due to militancy.
He called upon his Pakistani counterpart to come forward to formulate a joint strategy to wipe out polio disease of the region and provide a healthy environment for the coming generations.
The departments of health and trade should not be politicized as it cures ailing masses and guarantees economic progress, he remarked.
The Nangarhar Governor urged Pakistan to play its due role to restore durable peace in Afghanistan.
Provincial finance minister of KP Temur Saleem Jhagra also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, the Governor KP,Shah Farman received the Governor Nengarhar Ziaul Haq Amer Khel at zero point of Torkham border where they administered anti-polio drops to the children below five to mark the world polio day.
