ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched the last anti-polio campaign of 2024 which is set to commence on Monday (tomorrow) across 143 districts in the country after the number of polio cases reached 63 this year. The premier formally launched the vaccination campaign by administering drops to children during an inauguration event in Islamabad today. This anti-polio drive will be conducted from December 16 to 22. Addressing the event, PM Shehbaz welcomed international partners including Bill Gates-founded Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and Saudi Arabia for assisting Pakistan in the war against polio. He said that the Saudi crown prince’s role was appreciable for polio eradication in Pakistan. “I especially thank the government of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, for his very valuable contribution towards eradicating polio not only in Pakistan but also Afghanistan, and of course, I deeply appreciate the efforts of Bill Gates Foundation, WHO and I want to assure you that together we will march forward and will not rest until polio is thrown out for all times to come,” he added. During the inauguration, the prime minister highlighted the growing concern of rising polio cases, with around 60 new reported cases, but assured that with the combined efforts of the federal and provincial governments, the country would overcome this challenge. The provincial distribution of polio cases this year includes 26 in Balochistan, 18 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 17 in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).He urged the parents to ensure vaccination of their children to protect them from polio. The premier also thanked the efforts of polio workers taking part in the immunisation campaign and the cooperation of law enforcement agencies to ensure the safe conduct of the nationwide anti-polio drive. Speaking on the occasion, PM’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said around 400,000 polio workers across 143 districts of the country will visit every household to administer polio drops to children below five years. She requested the parents to open their doors and fully cooperate with the polio teams in this campaign. She noted that the premier’s continuous involvement in the anti-polio efforts served as a testament to his commitment to safeguarding the health of Pakistan’s children. She assured that the campaign would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to ensure that every child is vaccinated against the disease.