Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday underscored the government’s commitment to protecting children’s health, prioritising polio eradication and addressing the growing risks of lead exposure through coordinated national and international efforts.
He expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of the Partnership for Lead Free Future and UNICEF at the Prime Minister’s Office, a news release said.
Welcoming the delegation, the prime minister said the government was taking priority measures to safeguard the future of children, adding that Pakistan remained fully committed to eliminating polio from the country.
He said exposure to lead posed serious risks to children’s physical and mental development and described it as a major public health challenge, assuring that all possible steps would be taken to mitigate its impact.
The prime minister emphasised that Pakistan would continue to work closely with international partners to prevent lead exposure and improve child health outcomes.
The delegation included Director of the Lead-Free Future Secretariat Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Pakistan Representative Pernille Ironside, and experts from Stanford University School of Medicine Jenna Forsyth and Thomas Hird. Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Mustafa Kamal and Ayesha Raza Farooq, along with senior officials, were also present.
The delegation appreciated the government’s efforts under the prime minister’s leadership in protecting children from diseases, including polio, and improving health and development indicators.
They briefed the meeting on findings from their recent survey, identifying areas affected by lead exposure in Pakistan and highlighting the need for increased public awareness about its harmful effects.
The participants also acknowledged the government’s initiatives in health, education, youth development and information technology, terming them important steps towards sustainable national development.