Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah issued a stern warning on Monday that the blocking of roads by political protesters will not be tolerated, and also announced that action will be taken against parents who refuse to vaccinate their children, as he formally launched the province-wide anti-polio campaign.
Speaking to the media after the inauguration on Monday, the Chief Minister urged the 14-party alliance to participate in elections instead of protesting. He said, referring to a potential protest call from a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, that strict action will be taken against the closure of major highways, including Shahrah-e-Faisal.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the week-long immunization campaign, running from February 2 to February 8, by administering polio drops to children at a government school in Chanesar Goth.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by top officials, including provincial ministers Saeed Ghani and Sardar Ali Shah, as well as representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Rotary International.
During this extensive campaign, the target is to vaccinate over 10.5 million children under the age of five. More than 80,000 polio workers will visit 8.9 million homes in 1,490 union councils across 30 districts of the province.
Syed Murad Ali Shah emphasized that polio eradication is a collective responsibility and a firm commitment of his government, with a zero-tolerance policy for negligence. He directed the administration to ensure strict monitoring of the campaign and to take action against non-cooperating households.
To ensure the safety of frontline health workers, he confirmed that a contingent of over 21,000 police and Rangers personnel has been deployed for security. He affirmed that “Polio workers are our heroes, and their protection is the government’s responsibility.”
During a visit to the classrooms, the Chief Minister personally administered the vaccine and placed bands on students, declaring them “Polio Ambassadors,” and encouraging them to promote awareness in their communities.
He expressed that it is a “matter of shame for the nation” that Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries remaining affected by polio. He reiterated that just two drops of the vaccine can prevent a lifetime of disability.
The provincial head urged parents to fully cooperate with vaccination teams. He advised that “If a polio team does not visit a home, parents should immediately contact the nearest basic health center or local administration to get their children vaccinated.”
He also appealed to religious scholars, teachers, and political figures to help persuade the public and requested media houses to dedicate a few seconds in every hourly news bulletin to polio awareness, calling it a national duty.
Highlighting past challenges, he noted that Sindh was close to eradicating polio in 2018, but cases resurfaced between 2019 and 2021 after a lapse in efforts during caretaker governments.
In other remarks, the Chief Minister confirmed that a judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza tragedy has been initiated, and compensation of Rs 10 million each is being provided to the affected families, with 26 checks already issued.