Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, on Friday emphasized the urgency of integrated efforts to protect every child in Pakistan from vaccine-preventable diseases with a special emphasis on achieving the goal of a Polio Free Pakistan.

He was addressing the National Workshop on EPI/PEI Synergy Framework and Integrated Plan Development, held from 12 to 14, February 2025.

The workshop concluded with a strong commitment to enhancing collaboration between the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO.

Dr Mukhtar underscored that the Synergy Framework is not merely a document, but a strategic roadmap designed to optimize resources, strengthen coordination, and ensure no child is left behind.

‘This is a shared responsibility that demands full commitment from all of us, especially at the provincial and district levels,’ Dr Mukhtar stated. A key highlight of the workshop was the emphasis on integrated District and Union Council level planning.

Reiterating the government’s unwavering commitment to polio eradication and routine immunization, Dr Mukhtar called for a unified approach where partners, government bodies, health workers, and communities work collectively.