Says Pakistan will continue to work closely with international partners to improve child health
A delegation from the Partnership for Lead Free Future and UNICEF called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: X
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting children’s health, prioritizing 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 in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
According to the PMO statement welcoming the delegation, the prime minister said the government was taking priority measures to secure the future of children, adding that Pakistan remained fully committed to eradicating polio from the country.
He said exposure to lead posed a serious risk to children’s physical and mental development and described it as a major public health challenge, ensuring that all possible steps would be taken to mitigate its impact.
وازیرِ اعزم محمد شهباز شریف سی وادف کی کی وافد کی ونیسیف (UNICEF).
The delegation was led by the UNICEF representative in Pakistan, Pernille Ironside, and Pernille, while the Director of the Secretariat of the Future of Pakistan, Stanford University School of Medicine, was Jenna Farsith (Jenna… pic.twitter.com/LHu0nWuqA3
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) 30 April 2026
The Prime Minister emphasized that Pakistan will continue to work closely with international partners to prevent lead exposure and improve children’s health.
The delegation included Lead-Free Future Secretariat Director Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Pakistan Representative Pernille Ironside and experts from the Stanford University School of Medicine, Jenna Forsyth and Thomas Hird. Union 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 the findings of their recent study, identified areas affected by lead exposure in Pakistan and highlighted the need for increased public awareness of its harmful effects.
Read more: PM Shehbaz reaffirms commitment to polio eradication as cases plummet by 2026
The participants also recognized the government’s initiatives in health, education, youth development and information technology, terming them as important steps towards sustainable national development.
