ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: The federal health minister Nasir Khan met the Indian President APJ Kalam during his visit to India and discussed with him issues related to health initiatives in India and Pakistan with special focus on eradicating polio , said a press release issued by the health ministry here on Sunday.

The health minister returned from India on Saturday night after attending a meeting on polio eradication in New Delhi during which he met the Indian president. The minister conveyed to the president of India greetings from the president of Pakistan, said the press release.

The health minister, the press release said, apprised the Indian president about the progress made by Pakistan in its efforts to achieve polio-free status. The Indian President, said the press release, appreciated the work that has been done so far towards polio eradication in both countries and stressed the need to redouble efforts to meet the global target of complete eradication of the disease.

The minister said the women parliamentarians were being involved in the campaign besides increased ownership of the initiative by district nazims.