KHYBER: Pakistan and Afghanistan resolved on Saturday to put up collective efforts to eradicate the crippling disease of polio from their soil and protect their coming generations from its adverse effects.

The two neighbouring countries organised a ceremony to commemorate the World Polio Day at Torkham border where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman and his counterpart from Afghan province of Nangarhar Ziaul Haq Ameerkhel along with health and security officials of both countries were in attendance.

Speaking on the occasion, Nangarhar governor Ziaul Haq Ameerkhel emphasised the need for coordinated efforts by the neighbouring countries to fight poliovirus and wipe it out from both the countries.

KP, Nangarhar governors attend event at Torkham to mark World Polio Day

He said that while rest of the countries in the world had successfully eliminated poliovirus from their regions the virus was still affecting children in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Mr Ameerkhel said that the anti-polio vaccination campaign and trade between the two countries should be free from politics.

“It is time we join hands to make peace a reality in the region, promote unity and bilateral trade and frankly discuss all the thorny issues in order to have good brotherly and friendly relations,” he added.

Responding to the friendly overtures from his Afghan counterpart, Shah Farman said the situation in Afghanistan had a direct bearing on the situation in Pakistan and the two countries shared both their happiness and sorrows.

“I want to communicate my message that Pakistan is the worst-affected country due to instability in Afghanistan and we will benefit the most if peace and stability is restored in Afghanistan,” he stated while emphasising that Pakistan was trying to improve its relations with Afghanistan and to help build peace in the war-hit country.

He said that Pakistan was trying its best to improve its relations with Afghanistan in the areas of environment, economy, law and order and peace. He said Pakistan would benefit the most if relations in these four areas were improved in near future.

Both the governors lauded the role of health authorities of their respective countries and courageous role polio vaccinators to eradicate poliovirus from the region.

Earlier, both the governors administered polio drops to children below five to mark joint efforts of both the countries. The border crossing remained closed for over three hours while cross-border movement was restored after conclusion of the joint ceremony.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2020