Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier today, decided to seek assistance of the Army Chief and provincial chief ministers in anti-polio drive.
According to sources, the Prime Minister is expected make important announcements on World Polio Day (October 24).
The premier has taken a decision to form a special cabinet committee for eradication of polio in most affected areas. The committee will comprise the interior minister, defence minister and health minister. Another high-level inter-ministerial coordination committee headed by the federal health minister will be formed as well to ensure provision of all resources for anti-polio campaigns, sources told.
Recently, Pakistan has recorded its highest number of polio cases for 15 years, with health officials blaming the rise on attacks on immunization teams. The number of new cases in 2014 so far is 202, exceeding the 199 cases in 2001 but short of the 558 cases in 1999.
Most of the cases are detected in the north-western tribal region where militants have targeted health teams.
