Japan will give a $3.87 million grant for the polio eradication efforts in Pakistan and an agreement has been signed in this regard, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

This was disclosed by Health Minister Abdul Qadeer Patel on Thursday. He said the grant would be utilized to purchase the polio vaccine. He said that an obvious reduction could be seen in the number of polio cases among children during last 30 years. 

The minister boasted that the government has successfully stopped the spread of polio virus in the country. He hoped that the country would get rid of the crippling disease by 2023.

Patel also hailed the efforts of Japanese government and other donors for the eradication of polio from Pakistan. 

The minister said that the Government of Japan has been cooperating with the Pakistan Polio Programme since 1996 and it has provided more than $238.66 million in grants and loans so far.

Reporter Kifayat Ali Shah