Sir: Pakistan stands responsible for nearly 80 percent of polio cases globally and it remains the greatest single threat to eradicating the crippling disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO) in its report held Pakistan responsible for failure to control the spread of polio after the country reported 235 new cases this year. The situation is becoming worse due to a lack of access for children to vaccinations, largely owing to a ban on immunisations imposed by the Taliban in North and South Waziristan. Pakistan faces huge hurdles in continuing its anti-polio efforts because of such militants who falsely say that the vaccine is part of a conspiracy to make Muslims sterile. They attack polio workers and have killed dozens of them already. It is embarrassing that Pakistan is one of three countries, along with Nigeria and Afghanistan, which are still not polio-free. The rest of the world has moved on after getting rid of this disease long ago but here we are suffering at the hands of a backward and fanatical mindset. Even our religion teaches us to save and serve humanity first. We are not just responsible for ruining lives but presenting a bad image of our country. AMINA NASEER Karachi