On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Bill Gates, the founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, urging all partners to sustain their efforts toward achieving a polio-free Pakistan.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting, highlighted Pakistan’s relentless work toward eradicating polio, according to a press release from the PM Office.
Earlier, both leaders participated in a high-level panel discussion at the WEF titled “Redefining the Global Health Agenda.” During the discussion, the prime minister thanked Bill Gates for a warm congratulatory letter upon his re-election. Gates reminisced about the successful immunization and polio vaccine program in Punjab province under Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership as Chief Minister and stressed the importance of replicating this practice nationwide.
The prime minister reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating closely with Bill Gates to strengthen the partnership between Pakistan and the Gates Foundation, reflecting on their past interactions.
He expressed gratitude to the BMGF for its enduring support for polio eradication in Pakistan. Bill Gates acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of polio eradication to safeguard future generations from this debilitating disease.
Alongside polio, Prime Minister Shehbaz and Bill Gates also discussed progress on ongoing initiatives between Pakistan and the Foundation in areas such as immunization, nutrition, and financial inclusion. The prime minister noted that the Gates Foundation was a trusted partner in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and sought collaboration in other sectors, including IT, STEM education, and disaster management. Recalling Bill Gates’ visit to Pakistan in February 2022, the prime minister extended an invitation for him to visit Pakistan again at his convenience.