Ambassador Farukh Amil participated in “International Roundtable-Road to Eradicate Polio” to discuss the challenges and opportunities for “one last mile” to eradicate polio hosted by UNICEF Office Tokyo, Rotary International, Japan Institute for Global Health, Japan Committee Vaccines for the World’s Children and RESULTS Japan. The event was attended by Members of Diet Task Force on Polio Eradication and Member of Parliamentary League for UNICEF including Mr. Ichiro Aisawa (House of Representatives), Mr. Kenji Kosaka (House of Councillor), Mr. Kenzo Fujisue (House of Councillors), Ms. Toshiko Abe State Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, representatives of Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Health (Japan), JICA, WHO, Civil Society and the media.
All the speakers commended Pakistan’s progress, efforts and commitment toward Polio eradication and expressed the hope that polio would soon be eliminated from the world with help of all stakeholders and international community.
The Ambassador reiterated that polio eradication continued to be a national emergency with renewed commitment and political will of the Government at all level. Appreciating the efforts of the Japanese Government he recalled the visit of Parliamentary Task Force on Polio’s visit to Pakistan in October 2015 which had very positive impact. Whilst highlighting the recent developments such as country wide polio drive, high level meeting by Minister for National Health and Services with all stakeholders, the Compulsory Immunization and Protection of Health Workers Bill and Straight Monitoring etc. the Ambassador said the dedication of the frontline workers, organized community-based response and strong commitment by the Prime Minister and his team including Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Senator Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq and Minister of State for National Health & Services Mrs. Saira Afzal Tarar would certainly realize the goal of Polio free Pakistan.
A fact-sheet -in Japanese and English- highlighting efforts and measures taken by the Government was distributed among the participants.
Embassy of Pakistan – Tokyo
14 April, 2016
PR # 27/2016