KARACHI: The polio eradication campaign has commenced in all seven districts of Karachi, aiming to vaccinate 2.585 million children against polio. Over 11,000 polio workers are assigned to carry out vaccinations for children under the age of 5, with a focus on achieving the target effectively.
A meeting chaired by Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Saleem Rajput reviewed the campaign’s arrangements and emphasized providing full security to the vaccination teams.
The urgency of the campaign was underscored by the recent reporting of two polio cases in Karachi in October. These cases marked the first instances outside the endemic region since January 2021.
The cases involved a 24-month-old child and a 31-month-old child, both from the UC Gujro of Karachi East. The virus isolated from these cases belonged to the YB3A cluster, detected in positive environmental samples from various parts of Karachi. This information was shared during the meeting, highlighting the importance of conducting vaccination campaigns promptly to curb the spread of polio.
IMF Advises Pakistan to Prioritize Climate Action in FY2024-25 Budget
Meanwhile, as Pakistan seeks ongoing international support at the global climate conference (COP28) in Dubai, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the government to make the budget for FY2024-25 a turning point for planning and investment portfolios focused on climate adaptation.
The IMF also emphasized the need for transparency on climate-related actions with budgetary implications to facilitate policymaking and climate financing.
The IMF recommended improving transparency in budget documentation by presenting key information on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and the broader public investment program. It also urged the Planning Commission to collaborate with the Finance Division on a proposal for approval by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) to be included in the 2024-25 budget documentation.
Furthermore, the IMF called for the advancement of green budgeting, including budget tracking and the publication of information on climate-related costs.
