PM kicks off nationwide anti-Polio caMPaign Monday, 3 February, 2025 4 Shaban ul Moazzam, 1446
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ACKNOWLEDGES LAST YEAR’S 77 POLIO CASES WERE MAJOR SHOCK FOR GOVT
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched a nationwide anti-polio campaign for the year 2025 (Feb 3-9) by administering polio drops to children under the age of five. Addressing the launching ceremony, the prime minister reaffirmed his government’s determination to eliminate the polio disease from Pakistan. He said that the national polio vaccination drive would target millions of children in the country to save their future and health. He hoped that the dedicated teams would work day and night to eradicate the disease, and would reach the far flung areas and villages, adding these teams would
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REAFFIRMS GOVT’S DETERMINATION TO ELIMINATE POLIO DISEASE FROM PAKISTAN
successfully meet the huge national responsibility by utilizing their complete energies. The prime minister said that unfortunately, during the last year, a total of 77 polio cases were reported in the country which emerged as a huge challenge, besides posing a setback. This year, only one case was reported, he said, and expressed the resolve to eradicate polio at all costs; with dedicated team work and support from the international partners. The prime minister also expressed the hope that with international coordination and support, the crippling disease in the neighbouring brotherly country Afghanistan would end. He appreciated all the international partners including WHO, UNICEF, Bill Gates Foundation and the brotherly country Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their commitment
and efforts to the government in its efforts to eliminate polio. Speaking on the occasion, PM’ Coordinator on National Health Services Dr Mukhtar Bharat said that they had highlighted the number of polio cases which were reported last year and did not hide it from the international community. He said that positive outcome was being felt with concerted efforts by all the quarters and only one case was reported this year. He also appreciated the prime minister for his supervision without which they would not be able to get the desired results. PM’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Aysha Raza Farooq said that the polio vaccination was a public campaign in which all segments of society have to take part and urged the parents to coordinate and save their children from polio.
in attempting to exploit the system have been held accountable. In total, the customs licenses of 45 agents implicated in the fraud attempt have been suspended, and show-cause notices have been issued in accordance with the Customs Agents Rules. An appraising officer who was found to be complicit in the scheme has been suspended, and a formal inquiry has been initiated under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules. A criminal case has also been filed against the culprits, which include customs agents, apprais-
ing officers, and some private individuals involved in the scheme. A dedicated investigation team has been set up, and three individuals have already been arrested. Raids are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects and ensure they face justice. Despite the attempted fraud, FCAS is operating smoothly with no backlogs in customs clearances. The system, hailed as a significant improvement in the efficiency of customs procedures, was launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan just two weeks ago.
Customs foil fraud attempt in new faceless clearance system, suspends 45 licenses PROFIT
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Pakistan Customs has successfully thwarted an attempt to manipulate the newly introduced Faceless Customs Assessment System (FCAS), designed to streamline and improve the quality of customs assessments. Such an attempt was anticipated, and the Karachi Customs team, responsible for FCAS operations, had been instructed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to remain vigilant. Those involved