THE WHO polio-related travel restrictions on Pakistan have awakened our government from the deep slumber of inefficiency. … Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar’s statement in this regard is amazing. She has said that the restrictions have been imposed suddenly, which Pakistan never expected. The country would annually need polio vaccines worth millions of rupees to meet the situation. …

The restrictions are the result of our own performance. … In Pakistan those who administer polio drops are shot dead. Here people refuse polio drops for their children whereas the government does not even handle this serious issue half-heartedly.

…[M]any people consider polio drops ‘sinful’ and the government has not taken action against those who preach this concept. Now [many] parents are exposing their children to polio under the influence of this preaching. …

Ms Tarar’s words were ‘pearls of wisdom’. Is the state too poor to afford polio drops? As far as we know, polio drops are donated to us, and are administered free of charge. And one must also not be shy of spending a little if it is required to fight the menace of polio.

The restrictions are a humiliation of the entire nation by the civilised world. We face this because of our own conduct. And we will lose nothing if these restrictions make the nation rise up and protect its honour. — (May 8)

Selected and translated by Intikhab Hanif.