The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Friday approved a revised emergency plan for eradication of polio with a total outlay of $986.29 million. The ECNEC, which met in Islamabad with Finance Minister Asad Umar in the chair, also approved feasibility study and dualisation of 42-kilometer-long Mardan-Swabi Road at a cost of Rs 9,550.10 million. The polio eradication plan is aimed at eliminating the disease through supplemental immunization across the country and use of environmental surveillance to completely check poliovirus transmission. Published in Daily Times, January 26th 2019.