LAHORE, April 30: The Lahore High Court on Monday sought replies from the federal and Punjab governments on a writ petition seeking legislation on polio vaccination and storage of the vaccine as per international standards.

Petitioner Rana Ijaz submitted through his counsel that the government launched an anti-polio campaign every year but no legislation had been done so far on such an important issue. He said due to lack of the legislation, the anti-polio campaign remained failed to achieve its target.

Moreover, the petitioner said, the country was still fighting the menace of polio despite launch of campaign every year. The reason was poor mechanism of polio vaccine’s storage, he added.

The petitioner sought directions for the government to make legislation on polio vaccination and follow international standards for the storage of its vaccine.

The court after hearing the contention sought replies from the governments by May 24.

Court orders: The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the Punjab food secretary to order arrangements for gunny bags distribution among farmers at some government place at Nankana Sahib instead of the house of any local MNA/MPA.

Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan issued these directions while disposing of a petition filed by a farmer accusing the secretary of distributing gunny bags on political grounds for upcoming wheat crop.

Justice Khan observed that such activities should be done on behalf of the government instead of any political individual. The secretary, who was present in the court, undertook to comply with the court orders.

Talat Mahmood of Nankana Sahib had submitted that gunny bags were being distributed on ‘political grounds’ through MPAs and MNAs concerned who were giving them to the farmers belonging to their parties.

Therefore, he said, the farmers having no political affiliation or from rival parties were being discriminated against favourites.

He prayed to the court to direct the secretary to ensure provision of bags to all farmers without any discrimination.