LAHORE, May 4: GAVI, a global organisation, has deferred for an `indefinite period` funding to Pakistan mainly because of its `ill-planning` to curb measles outbreak in the country, it is learnt.

This is the second time that the government has shown its `non-serious attitude` towards 65 million children at measles risk and missed the opportunity to get financial support from GAVI, a body working for saving children`s lives by increasing access to immunisation in poor countries.

An official privy to the development told Dawn the `unfortunate` decision came during a meeting between a three-member GAVI delegation and government representatives held on Friday at the Institute of Health Sciences in Islamabad.

The government was represented by caretaker Information Technology Minister Dr Sania Nishtar, National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group chairman Prof Dr Tariq Bhutta, Punjab EPI manager Dr Mohammad Munir and other provincial officials. `Pakistan has the third highest death rate among children under five because of various infectious diseases and epidemics caused by improper vaccination,` the official said, adding that as many as 424,377 deaths had been reported in the country in 2010.