Pakistan to get $10m for polio eradication.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan will receive $10 million for polio eradication from the Lives and Livelihood Fund (LLF), a partnership between the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, announced Hammad Azhar, federal minister for economic affairs, on Wednesday.

The announcement was made at the launching ceremony of the Pakistan Polio EradicaAtion Programme (2019-2021), where the minister said, according to a statement released by the Economic Affairs Division, 'Today, we are celebrating our long-established partnership with the IDB. Over the years, we have come to rely on it to help us combat polio.'

He also thanked the LLF for the grant in addition to an earlier loan of $90 million for polio eradication, stated the press release.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza also spoke at the event, stated the press release. The financial assistance provided by the IDB has strengthened operations and surveillance activities of the programme, he said.

'It has made the polio eradication programme more adaptable and responsive to dynamic and rapidly changing polio eradication environment. The IDB has provided huge financial support to Pakistan for polio eradication and also contributed to bringing a 'religious'...