Islamabad (GNP) :- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government is taking priority measures to secure the future of the nation’s children.
He was talking to a delegation of Partnership for Lead Free Future and UNICEF that called on him in Islamabad.
The delegation included UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside, Director of the Lead-Free Future Secretariat Abdullah Fazil, as well as experts from Stanford University School of Medicine, Jenna Forsyth and Thomas Hird.
Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that Pakistan considers polio eradication a top priority and is determined to eliminate the disease from the country soon.
He highlighted that exposure to lead causes serious mental and physical developmental issues in children, terming it a major challenge. He affirmed that the government, in collaboration with its international partners, is committed to taking all possible measures to prevent the harmful effects of lead.
The delegation members thanked the Prime Minister and briefed him on their recent survey conducted during their visit to Pakistan. They appreciated the government’s efforts under his leadership to protect children from polio and other diseases.
They also expressed satisfaction over the measures being taken to prevent diseases among children and to address threats to their development. They further commended the government’s initiatives in the fields of health, education, youth training, and information technology.
The delegation also briefed the Prime Minister on the adverse health impacts of lead, identified affected areas in Pakistan, and emphasized the importance of raising public awareness about its harmful effects.
The participants also acknowledged the government’s initiatives in health, education, youth development and information technology, terming them important steps towards sustainable national development.
