UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi has said that Pakistan will soon get rid of polio, a highly infectious viral disease.
In her remarks to United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) Executive Board’s second regular session -2017, ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said Pakistan was now close to being a polio-free Country, and that the development of children was being focused.
“We have made remarkable progress on polio eradication,” Lodhi said.
Maleeha Lodhi said despite many challenges, Pakistan was firmly committed to meeting the ambitious 2030 agenda aimed at ending extreme poverty, equitably promoting prosperity including and especially of children.
The ambassador said Pakistan was pursuing a policy of reform to bring the poor and the vulnerable into the mainstream, with focus on the development of children.
Lodhi said the policies aim to improving access to education, health care facilities and economic opportunities for different segments of the society.
The Executive Board reviews UNICEF activities and approves its policies, country programmes and budgets. It comprises 36 members, representing the five regional groups of member states at the United Nations.
Its work is coordinated by the Bureau, comprising the President and four Vice-Presidents, each officer representing one of the five regional groups.
