Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to completely eradicate polio from the country.
The prime minister thanked the Gates Foundation for its longstanding support for Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts and expressed his personal commitment to the cause.
Recalling the Foundation’s recent visit to Pakistan, PM Shehbaz appreciated its engagement in areas including polio eradication, maternal and child health, nutrition, immunisation, digitisation and financial inclusion.
Bill Gates acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts under the prime minister’s leadership and stressed that eradicating polio was essential to protecting future generations from the crippling disease.
The prime minister described the Gates Foundation as a trusted partner in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in public health, agriculture, digital innovation and artificial intelligence.
He also briefed Gates on the government’s agricultural reforms, particularly initiatives focused on innovation, biotechnology, climate resilience, research and capacity-building for farmers.
The two sides agreed to explore cooperation in improved seeds, livestock genetics and emerging agricultural technologies.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continued engagement to strengthen partnerships in sustainable development, technological advancement and social sector development.
PM Shehbaz also invited Bill Gates to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
