RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: President Mamnoon Hussain said the opponents of polio vaccination campaign were working against religion and humanity, adding that prayers, leaders and clerics could play crucial role in the eradication of the crippling disease.

He expressed these views while presiding over a high-level meeting on polio eradication; and also expressed these views while addressing a grand tribal Jirga here in Governor’s House on Saturday. Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Engineer Shaukatullah, Federal Minister for Tribal Affairs Abdul Qadir Baloch, Provincial Minister for Health Shaukat Ali Yusufzai, Advisor to Prime Minister Engineer Amir Muqaam and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

President Mamnoon Hussain said hatred was being spread against polio eradication campaign through malicious propaganda by some elements, which was against the religion as well as humanity. He stressed that leaders’ prayer in their sermons should create awareness to encourage the people against the disease. He further called for the creation of such groups in local levels in tribal areas to create awareness about polio vaccines that the drops were neither un-Islamic nor injurious for health.

He said “religion speaks of the saving of the lives of human beings, saying the life of human being is the trust of Allah Almighty.”

He said it was the duty of the government to utilise all resources for the protection of the lives of the people, adding that opposition to polio vaccination was against not only the religion, but also the society.

Meanwhile, addressing the grand tribal Jirga, President Mamnoon Hussain said adopting of a comprehensive strategy was must for eradication of polio to protect the builders of the future from that deadly disease. Unfortunately, he said, Pakistan was among the ranks of such countries where poliovirus was still a threat to the lives of the children.

The President said it was a matter of concern that out of the total 85 reported polio cases, 65 were hailing from Fata. He said war against polio was the need of the time and it could be overcome through waging organised efforts. He said the disease was not incurable and the elimination of its virus and treatment was available to protect the future of children.

On this occasion, religious clerics also seconded that polio drops were neither un-Islamic nor injurious to health and the whole nation had to join hands to play its role as national obligation against it.

The President said the government was facing different kind of challenges. However, he said every possible step would be taken for the socio-economic uplift of the tribal area and efforts meant for the development of Fata would be given practical shape.

On this occasion, President Mamnoon Hussain also directed Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) for initiating natural gas supply project to tribal areas in cooperation with Fata Secretariat.

He also directed Overseas Pakistanis’ Foundation (OPF) for establishing quality schools and announced that in Bajaur, Kurram and Khyber agencies the establishment of such schools had already been approved and in first phase. He also announced the up-gradation of Degree College (Boys), Landikotal, to post-graduate level, which would be followed by the up-gradation of the Degree College at Jamrud soon.

Similarly, he said, top 10 students from tribal area would be given scholarship in four Federal universities while general hospital would also be established in Fata.

Regarding provision of employment for tribal youth, the President said first 300 tribal youth would be imparted skill to include them in the employment scheme.