PM's aide on polio steps down amid surge in cases.

Byline: Aamir Yasin

ISLAMABAD -- Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication Babar bin Atta on Friday tendered his resignation citing personal reasons.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Atta said his father was ill and because he was his only son he had to look after him. He said he could not continue work on this important post on a full-time basis.

Mr Atta said it was this personal reason and there was no other reason behind his resignation. He said that he worked hard during the last one year without any salary or other benefits.

However, there has been an alarming increase in incidence of new polio cases this year. While 12 such cases were reported from all over Pakistan in 2018, the number of polio cases has reached 72 this year. Fifty-three of the cases are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight from Sindh, six from Balochistan and five from Punjab.

In messages on Twitter, Mr Atta said: 'After a stint of over a year as the Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio, I have asked the PM to relieve me of my duties because of some personal reasons pertaining to my family. During this time I got a chance to work with the best minds in the world.'

'When I look back, I am proud to say that I made all possible efforts to create that enabling environment where polio eradication is a top priority. A 24/7 call centre will soon be inaugurated to address all concerns of people who have questions related to the vaccine.'

'The countries...