Pakistan vows to eradicate polio in 2014

The Pakistan Ambassador to United Nations, Masood Khan said on Wednesday that Pakistan hopes to eradicate polio in 2014 despite security challenges, said an official press release on Wednesday.The Pakistani envoy said, "We have come a long way in eliminating polio from the country," adding that almost 95 percent of the country is now polio free. Masood Khan told the UNICEF Executive Board, which opened this years first session "we are therefore now implementing an augmented National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) to eradicate polio in 2014." Masood said, "Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is leading the efforts to eradicate polio which threatens our future generations. To accomplish this mission, the Prime Minister has created a Polio Eradication Cell in his office and has designated a focal point to coordinate actions between the federal, provincial and local governments." The Ambassador told the delegates that President Mamnoon Hussain has launched immunization program in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and secured the support of local community, specially Ulema (religious scholars) and tribal leaders.The polio eradication teams have been facing security threats in Pakistan especially in northern tribal areas where militants have attacked the polio teams several times. While praising the efforts of the polio teams, Masood Khan said, "Despite security challenges, our valiant polio workers continue to perform their tasks with devotion and dedication." He added, "We condemn terrorist attacks against them. We pay a tribute to the volunteers who have lost their lives while eradicating the menace of polio from our country."