Gilgit, November 2; Members of the Legislative Assembly of Gilgit Baltistan belonging to different major political parties met in Gilgit with Speaker Honourable Mr. Wazir Baig in the chair and agreed to initiate a multi-party Caucus of MLAs to raise awareness about the significance of immunization and the fatal consequences of not immunizing children. Honourable Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan was the chief guest on the occasion.

Addressing the MLA�s the honorable speaker declared his full support and cooperation to the initiative and urged MLAs to join the Caucus and tirelessly work to keep Gilgit Baltistan a polio-free region. He also agreed to become the Patron of the Caucus to actively work with other MLAs to promote immunization in the area. MLAs present at the meeting filled out their membership forms for the Caucus and agreed to start a membership drive within the Assembly.

Earlier, PILDAT Project Manager, Mr. Faheem Ahmed Khan highlighted in his presentation the state of polio in different areas of Pakistan and steps being taken by the Government to eradicate the menace of polio from Pakistan. He also talked about the role that can be effectively played by the MLAs to carry forward the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) programme.

Doctor Iqbal Rasool, Provoincial Manager EPI program in his presentation highlighted the importance of EPI. He informed the gathering that due to the efforts of the Gilgit Baltistan government the region is free of polio and now steps are required to maintain this status. He drew the attention of the participants towards non-availability of funds to run the programme effectively and feared that the polio free status could be lost if timely action is not taken. The Chief Minister and the Provincial Health Minister, Gilgit Baltistan assured that the matter will be pursued with the federal government.

MLAs agreed to convene the first formal meeting of the caucus during the current session of the Assembly. Ms. Sadia Danish and Mr. Jamil Ahmed, Deputy Speaker Legislative Assembly of Gilgit Baltistan were elected the Convener and Deputy Convener of the caucus respectively.

A Parliamentary Caucus on the Promotion of Immunization in Pakistan has been established by the Members of the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan while PILDAT has facilitated the formation of Provincial Caucuses on Promoting Immunization in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan.

MLAs participated and became members of the Gilgit Baltistan Caucus on promotion of Immunization included:

Syed Mehdi Shah( GB VII Skardu 1, PPP), Wazir Baig (GB VI, PPP), Gudbar Khan (GB XVIII, JUI), Atta Ullah Shahab � Member GB Council, ( JUI F), Nisar Hussain (GBVIII Skardu II, PPP), Abdul Hameed Khan (GB XIII Astore I, PPP), Wazir Hassan GB X Skardu IV, PPP), Wazir Ibadat Ali (Member GB Council (PPP), Janzab Khan (GB XVI, PML-N), Muhammad Naseer Khan (GB XIV, PPP), Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Kharmong (GB XI PPP), Raja Muhammad Azam Khan Shigri (GB XII MQM), Bashir Ahmed Khan (PML Q), Jamil Ahmed (PPP), Maulana Syed Sarwar Shan (JUI), Engineer M. Ismael (GB XXIV, PPP), Muhammad Ayub Shah (GB XXI, PPP), Muhammad Ali Akhtar (GB IV, PPP), Wazir Shakeel Ahmed (GB IX, PPP), Saadia Danish (PPP), Dr. Ali Madad (GB XX, PPP), Haji Rehmat Khaliq (Member GB, JUI).