He says Pakistan will continue to work closely with international partners to improve child health outcomes.
A delegation from Partnership for Lead Free Future and UNICEF visited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday underscored 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 from Partnership for Lead Free Future and UNICEF at 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 safeguard the future of children, adding that Pakistan remained fully committed to eliminating polio from the country.
He said lead exposure posed serious risks to children’s physical and mental development and described it as a major public health challenge, ensuring that all possible measures would be taken to mitigate its impact.
(UNICEF)
وفد آئرنسائیڈ (Pernille Ironside) » عبداللہ فاضل، سٹینفورڈ یونیورسٹی اسکول آف میڈیسن سے جینا فارسیتھ (Jenna… pic.twitter.com/LHu0nWuqA3
– PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) April 30, 2026
The Prime Minister emphasized that Pakistan would continue to work closely with international partners to prevent lead exposure and improve child health outcomes.
The delegation included Lead-Free Future Secretariat Director Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside, and Stanford University School of Medicine experts 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 efforts of the government under the leadership of the Prime Minister to protect children from diseases, including polio, and improve health and development indicators.
They briefed the meeting on the findings of their recent survey, identifying areas affected by lead exposure in Pakistan and highlighting the need for greater public awareness of its harmful effects.
Read more: PM Shehbaz reaffirms commitment to eradicating polio as cases fall sharply by 2026
Participants also acknowledged the government’s initiatives in health, education, youth development and information technology, calling them important steps towards sustainable national development.
