Economic Affairs Division Secretary Noor Ahmed and Country Director, KFW, Germany Wolfgang Moeller, signed Financing Agreement for Polio Eradication Phase II worth Euro 5 Million equivalent to Rs. 790 million.

The agreement envisages to exclusively financing polio vaccines as well as vaccination campaigns to strengthen measures for the implementation of Pakistan’s 2018-2019, National Polio Emergency Action Plan.

The programme is to be executed by UNICEF and WHO and is in continuation of Polio Eradication Programme Phase I.

The National Task Force for Polio Eradication headed by the prime minister has led to marked reduction in the numbers of polio cases from 306 in 2014, to 54 in 2015, 20 in 2016, 8 in 2017, and only 4 in 2018.

The turnaround has been widely appreciated at national and international forums. The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination is hoping to eradicate the menace of Polio from Pakistan till the year 2020.