CHAMAN: Abdul Aziz Uqaili, Chief Secretary Balochistan, while urging the need for persuading parents to get their children vaccinated against polio virus, has said that religious scholars, tribal elders and district administration would have to play its due role in this regard.

These views were expressed by him while presiding over a high-level meeting held in connection with anti-polio drive to be launched in district Chaman and local bodies election during his visit to Chaman on Wednesday. Briefing participants of the meeting, it was informed that about 84000 children below the age of five would be administered anti polio drops during the campaign.

Urging the need for persuading parents to get their children vaccinated against polio virus, he said that religious scholars, tribal elders and district administration would have to play its role in that regard. He directed Commissioner Quetta Division to monitor the polio campaign. Issuing directives to the concerned authorities for conducting local bodies election in a fair and transparent manner, he said that impartiality be maintained during the election of local bodies election. During visit to Bab-e-Dosti (Friendship gate) along Pak-Afghan border, he directed the concerned authorities to get the children to and from Afghanistan vaccinated.

Later, Abdul Aziz Uqaili, Chief Secretary Balochistan paid a visit to District Headquarters Hospital, Chaman. Speaking on the occasion, he said that it was being ensured to provide healthcare facilities to the people. On the occasion, Provincial Coordinator, EOC, Hameedullah Nasar, Director General, Health Services, Balochistan, Muhammad Noor Qazi, Provincial Head, World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Mukhtiar and others were also present.