ISLAMABAD, Oct 10 Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, the youngest daughter of President Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto, has been appointed ambassador of the national polio eradication campaign.

The announcement was made by President Zardari at a ceremony held on Saturday to launch the anti-polio campaign.

He asked the provincial and district authorities to play an effective role in carrying out the campaign. He recalled that the polio eradication initiative was first launched by Ms Bhutto. “She was the first prime minister to have personally administered anti-polio drops to a Pakistani child. That child was no less than our own daughter, Aseefa,” he said.

Mr Zardari termed the nomination of Ms Aseefa a step to carry forward the “mission of her great mother”.

The president said Ms Aseefa wanted to be personally present here and participate in the event, but she could not come because of her studies.

He said that polio continued to threaten opportunities for children and Pakistan was among half a dozen countries which were not polio-free.

He said the number of polio cases was once more than 30,000, which had come down to 117 in 2008 and to 62 so far this year. He thanked international donors and partners for their support in fighting the crippling disease.

In her message read out at the ceremony, Ms Aseefa said “I feel a special responsibility towards eradicating polio from the country.

“Together we will end polio in her (Benazir Bhutto's) honour and in her memory.”—APP