March 01: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is committed to eradication of polio from Pakistan. It is also committed to negotiating with opponents of Polio-Vaccination Programme in Waziristan through their local office bearers, once elected after the Intra-party Elections, said Chairman of the Manifesto Committee of the PTI, Mr. Firdous Shamim Naqvi at the briefing session organized by PILDAT on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Anti-Polio Vaccination Programme.

Polio eradication will be a part of the election Manifesto of the PTI as a National Priority Programme, said Mr. Naqvi. PTI is committed that they will remove negative perception of polio vaccine by publically giving polio drops to their own children and will highlight the negative impact of Polio on population at private and public gatherings, talk shows and other interactions.

He shared that his party is also committed to supporting legislation for universal access to necessary routine immunization programmes, primary health and oversee its implementation and persuade the political leadership and the Government to increase health budget while monitor polio eradication campaigns and share feedback with officials concerned, once elected to form the government.

Earlier, Dr. Pervaiz Yousaf, Federal Surveillance Officer, World Health Organization (WHO) briefed the PTI Members on the Status of �How Political Parties Oversee the operations of Expended Programme of Immunization. He said that Political Oversight includes National Task Force for Polio Eradication, National Steering Committee, President�s Polio Oversight Committee, PM Polio monitoring & coordination cell, Provincial Task Force / Steering Committee (PSC) and District Polio Eradication Committee (DPEC).

The Briefing session with PTI is a follow-up meeting of the �All Parties Conference� on Polio Eradication-A National Emergency in Pakistan held on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 in Islamabad where 14 major political parties signed a Joint Declaration while committing that Eradication of Polio will be carried out by the Political Parties in their coming Election Manifestos.

Members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who participated in the Briefing Session included Mr. Firdous Shamim Nqavi, Chairman, Manifesto Committee, PTI, Dr. M. Humayun Mohmand, Member Central Executive Committee and Spokesperson Health, PTI, Mr. Qasim Khan Suri, President Balochistan, PTI, Ms. Malaika Raza, Member Manifesto Committee, PTI, Ms. Sakina Abdullah, Former President Women Wing Balochistan, PTI, Ms. Nafeesa Khattak, Member, Dr. Seema Zaidi, Member and Ms. Naureen Ibrahim, Member.

From UNICEF, Mr. Michael Coleman, External Communications Specialist, Ms. Huma Arif Khan, Communications for Development officer, while from WHO Dr. Pervaiz Yousaf, Federal Surveillance Officer and Mr. Andreas Hasman, Partnerships Officer participated in the meeting.

PILDAT organized the briefing session on enhancing the effectiveness of Anti-Polio for PTI in association with UNICEF, Pakistan under the Project on �To Raise Awareness among Parliamentarians to Enhance the Effectiveness of Anti-Polio.�