ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed concern over the emergence of new polio cases as he vowed to eradicate the disease from Pakistan by 2025 and instructed authorities to ensure the vaccine is administered to children in areas where inoculation drives have been targeted by militants.
Polio is a highly infectious disease that affects children under the age of five by invading their nervous system, leading to paralysis or even death, with Pakistan and Afghanistan remaining the only countries in the world where it is still endemic.
Pakistan has reported 13 cases this year, creating significant concern among local health authorities and foreign donors working to eradicate the disease. Polio vaccination efforts in Pakistan have been hampered by various factors, including parental refusal in remote areas and the targeting of polio teams in militancy-infested regions.
The prime minister chaired a meeting in Karachi, which was also attended via video link by Bill Gates of the Gates Foundation and Dr. Chris Elias of Global Development, to review the overall situation.
“The prime minister stressed the goal of completely eradicating the virus by 2025 and directed that all state resources be utilized to achieve this, ensuring that every child in Pakistan receives multiple doses of the polio vaccine, especially in security-challenged areas,” said a statement circulated by his office.
“He noted the concern over new polio cases but expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of provincial governments and partners, the disease could be defeated,” it added.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate polio and thanked the Gates Foundation for its support, particularly in the health care sector.
He also expressed gratitude to other governmental partners involved in the polio eradication efforts, emphasizing a whole-of-government approach.
The meeting was briefed on the current polio strategy, with reports of recent polio cases in Qila Abdullah in Balochistan and Chakwal in Punjab province.
It also discussed the improvement in monitoring systems for polio eradication and the positive progress in coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Pakistani government officials also highlighted their plan to launch nationwide polio vaccination campaigns in September, October and December this year.
Pakistan PM vows to eradicate polio by 2025 amid rising concerns over new cases
https://arab.news/586zt
Pakistan PM vows to eradicate polio by 2025 amid rising concerns over new cases
- Sharif chairs a meeting to review the government’s polio strategy following the emergence of 13 cases this year
- He instructs authorities to administer vaccine to children across the country, particularly in militancy-hit areas
In Pakistan, ‘Eternal Love’ has no place on YouTube
- YouTube blocked the Urdu-language dating show after complaints that it violated cultural and religious norms
- YouTube blocked the Urdu-language dating show after complaints that it violated cultural and religious norms
ISLAMABAD: YouTube has hit pause on a dating show that whisked eight men and women from conservative Pakistan to a sun-soaked Istanbul villa, where the strangers mingled, flirted and searched for chemistry.
What was meant to be a glittering escape into modern-day romance sparked a storm back home, turning the rose-petal drama into a cultural, traditional and religious flashpoint.
Dating and sex outside of marriage are prohibited by law in the Muslim-majority country, where public displays of affection can draw penalties.
The show “Lazawal Ishq,” or “Eternal Love,” aired 50 episodes before it was recently taken off YouTube in Pakistan, though it is still available elsewhere.
The format, reminiscent of the British reality hit “Love Island,” pushed boundaries that Pakistani entertainment typically avoids.
“Our program might not be watchable in Pakistan due to political reasons,” the show posted on its Instagram page.
It advised Pakistani viewers to use virtual private networks (VPNs) to continue watching.
YouTube did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment on why the show was suspended.
The show’s trailer starts with the host, actress Ayesha Omer, entering the villa in a white dress, where she meets contestants who are to choose a partner of their liking and test their compatibility through 100 episodes.
Omer swiftly came under fire online for wearing a “Western dress” and hosting a show that “promotes obscene and immoral content,” an increasingly common reaction to celebrities who deviate from Pakistan’s conservative expectations.
Omer countered on Instagram that “this is not a Pakistani show... it is a Turkish production, but of course people in Pakistan can watch it.”
A LOT OF COMPLAINTS
The Urdu-language show proved popular, with the inaugural trailer getting over two million views.
The online buzz underscored a growing divide between Pakistan’s younger, digitally connected audience and traditional gatekeepers anxious about changing values.
“It was something fun to watch. A show that showed that people in Pakistan can and do date even though it is frowned upon,” said one viewer who requested anonymity to speak freely.
But someone soon filed a petition to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), it said, seeking a ban and claiming the show goes against “Pakistan’s religious and social values by showing unmarried men and women living together.”
The regulator acknowledged receiving “a lot of complaints” about “Eternal Love” but said it did not have jurisdiction over digital platforms.
PEMRA advised petitioning the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, which oversees online content. It did not respond to requests for comment.
It is not the first time YouTube has taken down a program deemed offensive by conservative Pakistanis.
Last year, the show “Barzakh,” a family drama that touched on topics including love and spirituality, was removed on claims it promoted LGBTQ relationships.
