KARACHI: Although no case of polio has been detected in the province, including Karachi, during the last one year, the provincial capital and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts have been rated high-risk areas.

This was disclosed to caretaker Chief Minister Fazal-ur-Rahman when he was reviewing progress of polio-eradication programmes at the CM House here on Monday.

The CM said all stakeholders had to work together to make Pakistan polio-free and directed the principal secretary to call a meeting of the provincial task force on July 2 so that a strategy could be devised to control the disease.

Earlier, the chief minister was told that all polio activities were guided by the National Emergency Action Plan.

“Pakistan and Afgh­anistan are the only two countries where polio virus still exists. Pakistan reported three cases this year [all from Dukki district of Balochistan] while Afghanistan reported eight,” the CM was told.

He was further informed that samples were taken from 11 sites in Karachi every month. In May this year only the sample taken from Machhar Colony was positive. Last year, two cases were reported from Karachi.

“Routine immunisation in Sindh is weak and leaves many children without anti-polio drops. High surveillance is required to detect polio cases,” Mr Rahman was told.

Water theft FIRs

The chief minister, while presiding over a joint meeting of agriculture and irrigation departments, directed the latter to take strict action against water thieves by registering FIRs against them.

He said the level of water improved in the Indus River to some extent but its benefits were not reaching the tailenders.

Irrigation Secretary Jamal Shah said there was 35,000 cusecs of water last week but the volume went up to 41,457 on Sunday and was improving day by day. The CM directed the police to cooperate with irrigation officials in order to curb water theft.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2018