Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Bill Gates, the founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 2024) in New York.
In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday, PM Sharif expressed gratitude for Gates’ recent visit to Pakistan in June 2024 and thanked him for the invitation to visit the Gates Foundation in Seattle in December 2024.
The Prime Minister highlighted the crucial support provided by the Gates Foundation in various sectors, including polio eradication, maternal and child health, nutrition, immunization, digitization, and financial inclusion. He reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the complete eradication of polio from the country, thanking BMGF for its longstanding assistance in this endeavor.
Gates acknowledged Pakistan’s significant efforts towards polio eradication, emphasizing its importance in protecting future generations from the disease. He praised PM Sharif’s leadership and the engagement of provincial governments in the national polio vaccination program.
During the meeting, Gates provided updates on a comprehensive health dialogue with Afghanistan and sought support for the initiative. He expressed a focus on regions with high rates of missed vaccinations and where child morbidity rates are elevated. Additionally, he discussed the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre’s support for polio and other health relief initiatives.
Gates also underscored the foundation’s work on nutrition, particularly regarding micronutrients for pregnant women, and the potential benefits of additional vitamins in collaboration with UNICEF.
PM Sharif commended the Gates Foundation for its polio campaign in Gaza, acknowledging the challenges faced by children in the region. He called for an immediate ceasefire and a resolution to the ongoing conflict in accordance with UN Resolutions.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister expressed interest in expanding collaboration with the Gates Foundation in areas such as information technology, STEM education, agriculture, and livestock, recognizing BMGF as a trusted ally in Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
