01 October 2004	Friday	15 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Sept 30: The city government and Unicef on Thursday signed an accord to promote cooperation in child healthcare and protection, girls' primary education, and other issues in education and health sectors.

City Nazim Naimatullah Khan and Unicef's chief field officer signed the agreement on behalf their respective institutions. Speaking on the occasion, the nazim said that measures on priority basis were needed for protection of children in the city and provision of healthcare facilities to them.

"Children are an asset and their protection is the responsibility of the government," he said, adding, the city government was trying to eliminate polio completely in Karachi.

He said the children would be administrated polio drops in Saddar, Keamari, Korangi, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gadap and other areas, with the cooperation of Unicef. Mr Khan said a programme would be devised to administer polio vaccine drops to children of kutchi abadies and villages in different towns of the city.

DCO Mir Hussain Ali, Health EDO Dr Fazal Ellahi Memon, Project Director Haroon Imtiaz, nazim's advisor Abdullah Muttaqi and other officials were also present on the occasion. A meeting, to be chaired by the city nazim, will be held next week for elimination of polio in Karachi district. -PPI