Mustafa Kamal Urges Parents to Vaccinate Children Against Polio

Islamabad: The Senate initiated its session at the Parliament House with Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani presiding over the proceedings. In a significant move, the incident involving the misconduct and manhandling of senior journalist Tariq Virk by Punjab Police was referred to the Senate Committee on Information. Chairman Gilani also formed a three-member committee, including Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Senator Sherry Rehman, and Senator Ali Zafar, to improve coordination with the media.

According to Radio Pakistan, Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal has called on parents to ensure their children receive vaccinations to protect them from poliovirus and other serious diseases. He responded to a Calling Attention Notice, stressing that childhood vaccination remains the only effective strategy to guard against poliovirus, asserting that the anti-polio vaccine is completely safe for children’s health.

The Minister mentioned that the government is actively involving religious scholars and other influential figures to promote public awareness and action in vaccinating children. He pointed out a decrease in reported poliovirus cases, with 73 cases last year compared to only 14 this year. Furthermore, he noted that the Taliban-led Afghan interim government is conducting a large-scale campaign to eradicate poliovirus within Afghanistan.

Additionally, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik addressed a calling attention notice, indicating that the government is implementing various measures to bolster industry and create employment opportunities. These measures include reducing policy rates and taxes, rationalizing the industrial sector, and making policy interventions to support local industry development.

The Senate session concluded with an announcement that the House will reconvene on Friday at 10:30 in the morning.