RIYADH: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has held a meeting with the founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, wherein he called for a sustained efforts by all partners to reach the ultimate goal of a polio-free Pakistan, a PM office said in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, the meeting held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting in Riyadh, the PM highlighted that Islamabad was working tirelessly to completely eradicate polio from Pakistan.
Earlier, they had featured in a WEF’s high-level panel talks titled “Redefining the Global Health Agenda.” PM Shehbaz Sharif thanked Bill Gates for sending him a congratulatory letter upon his re-election. He also thanked the BMGF for its longstanding support for complete polio eradication in the South Asian country. Bill Gates also acknowledged Islamabad’s efforts and said polio eradication was vital to protect and secure future generations from this disease.
In addition to polio, Shehbaz Sharif and Bill Gates also discussed progress on the current activities between Pakistan and the Foundation in the areas of immunization, financial inclusion and nutrition.
The PM said that the Gates Foundation was a trusted partner in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and progress and sought cooperation in other areas including STEM education, IT, and disaster management.
Recalling Bill Gates’ trip to Pakistan in February 2022, the PM extended an invitation to him to visit Pakistan again at a time of his convenience.
