New York: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Bill Gates, founder and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting highlighted ongoing collaborations on polio eradication, health improvements, and potential areas for broadening cooperation including technology and education. The leaders also discussed the foundation’s continuing support for healthcare initiatives in Pakistan and new proposals for enhancing maternal and child health.
According to Press Information Department, the Prime Minister recalled Mr. Gates’ recent visit to Pakistan in June and expressed his appreciation for the Gates Foundation’s invitation to visit its headquarters in Seattle later this year. Prime Minister Sharif thanked the foundation for its support in Pakistan’s fight against polio and emphasized the country’s commitment to eradicating the disease. He also highlighted the importance of sustained health system strengthening and nutrition programs.
Mr. Gates acknowledged the efforts made by Pakistan in the polio eradication initiative and stressed the importance of protecting future generations from the disease. He appreciated the Prime Minister’s personal involvement and the engagement of provincial governments in the vaccine program. Furthermore, Mr. Gates discussed a comprehensive Health Dialogue with Afghanistan, seeking support for the initiative and expressing a desire to focus on areas with higher vaccine refusal rates.
In addition to health talks, Mr. Gates briefed the Prime Minister on the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre’s support for polio and other health-related initiatives. He also detailed the foundation’s efforts in improving nutrition, particularly through providing additional micronutrients to pregnant women in collaboration with UNICEF.
Prime Minister Sharif praised the Gates Foundation’s polio campaign in Gaza and expressed the necessity of an immediate ceasefire and resolution of the conflict as per UN resolutions. He commended the foundation for being a trusted ally in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and expressed interest in expanding cooperation into sectors such as information technology, STEM education, agriculture, and livestock.