ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Friday lauded the contributions of Rotary International, the global community, and development partners in the successful eradication of polio in Pakistan.
During a meeting with a delegation from Rotary International, led by Stephanie A. Urchik, the prime minister commended the organization’s efforts not only in polio eradication but also in the promotion of education and other sectors.
The delegation provided the prime minister with a briefing on the Pakistan Smart Village Programme and Rotary International’s performance in polio eradication. Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar congratulated Stephanie on becoming the first female president of Rotary International and extended good wishes.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of every Pakistani child from polio, the prime minister assured Rotary International of full cooperation in the execution of its programs. He expressed hope that the organization would expand the accessibility of its initiatives.
The delegation highlighted Rotary’s plans to uplift living standards by leveraging innovation and technology through the Smart Villages initiative. These villages aim to promote the agriculture sector, utilize alternative energy, improve irrigation, provide drinking water, and address the impacts of climate change.
During the meeting, it was disclosed that Rotary International had donated approximately 800,000 books across Pakistan, with 200,000 distributed in Balochistan. Additionally, the delegation presented another 10,000 books to the prime minister for distribution in various parts of the country.
The delegation emphasized that Rotary International’s mobile library was playing a crucial role in promoting book reading and literacy. Caretaker Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan and relevant senior officers were also present at the meeting.
