Muslim countries steps in with financial support to stop polio in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD:  With only three Muslim countries including Pakistan holding the Poliovirus that threatens the health of children not only in these countries but the entire world, Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia have come forward to support Pakistan in stopping the spread of Polio virus.

An exchange of notes took place here on Friday between the Economic Affairs Division and Islamic Development Bank. Secretary Economic Affairs Division Javed Iqbal and Mr. Shahid Ahmed, Resident Representative of the Islamic Development Bank for support of 227 Million US Dollars to be provided by the Saudi Arabia based Bank. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shahnaz Wazir Ali presided over the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion Shahnaz Wazir Ali said the support being provided for three years by Muslim countries through the Bank will enable Pakistan Government to provide uninterrupted the Polio vaccine to the Provinces to protect the children of Pakistan from this scourge and help us wipe out the Poliovirus. The Muslim world is concerned that Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are now spreading this disease all over the world. Saudi Arabia has placed travel restrictions on Pakistanis travelling to the Holy land who now require to take vaccination against Polio before entering Saudi Arabia. The entire Muslim world except for the three countries has eradicated Polio using repeated vaccination campaigns and reaching every child with the oral Polio vaccine, said Shahnaz Wazir Ali.

Resident Representative of the Islamic Development Bank Shahid Ahmed informed that the financial assistance provided by the IsDB reflects the commitment of the entire Muslim Ummah in eradication of Polio form the world as resolved in the OIC Makkah Al-Mukkarramah Extraordinary Summit.? The financing that the IsDB is going the provide is from all the shareholders of the IsDB and it reflects the collective wish of all Muslim Countries to help children in the brotherly Country of Pakistan to enable them to grow up as normal human beings without having to suffer the sever and lifelong consequences of Polio.

DND