Bill Gates meets Pakistan prime minister and government leaders to discuss Polio eradication

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, held discussions with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, federal cabinet ministers, provincial health ministers, chief secretaries, and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. Their meeting focused on joint commitments to enhance the well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls.They also addressed shared goals related to health, nutrition, climate adaptation, technology, and financial inclusion.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to eradicating polio. He stressed that any case of polio-related paralysis is unacceptable, underscoring the urgent need to maintain efforts toward a polio-free world. The collaboration between Pakistan, the Gates Foundation, and global polio partners remains crucial in achieving this goal.
During his visit, Gates engaged with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the health sector and met with female frontline workers involved in polio and routine immunization programs. He also participated in a roundtable discussion on climate adaptation, hosted by Romina Khurshid Alam, the coordinator to the Prime Minister on climate change, and Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malim. Gates expressed admiration for Pakistan’s commitment to health improvement, gender equity, and financial inclusion for vulnerable populations. He highlighted the country’s resilience in tackling complex health challenges, including polio eradication.
Additionally, Gates met with the National Taskforce on Polio, including Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, the coordinator to the Prime Minister on Health, along with Health Ministers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh. The focus was on responding to the recent surge in wild poliovirus detections across Pakistan, even in areas where the virus had not been seen for over two years.
Throughout the visit, discussions centered on leveraging data science and digital technology to benefit Pakistanis, especially women. The RAAST payment system, which provides direct access to capital for Pakistani women, was highlighted as a key initiative. Gates also learned about efforts to enhance resilience against health emergencies resulting from climate change and the systems being developed to deliver life-saving vaccines to children. Pakistan’s commitment to ending polio remains a top priority."