NEW YORK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with the two sides discussing cooperation in polio eradication, public health, agriculture, digital innovation and artificial intelligence.
Recalling the Gates Foundation team’s recent visit to Pakistan, the prime minister appreciated the foundation’s continued engagement in supporting polio eradication, maternal and child health, nutrition, immunisation, digitisation and financial inclusion.
Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to completely eradicate polio from the country and thanked the Gates Foundation for its longstanding support for the national effort.
The prime minister also reiterated his personal commitment to eliminating polio and protecting future generations from the disease.
Bill Gates acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts towards polio eradication and stressed that eliminating the disease was essential to protecting future generations.
He also appreciated the prime minister’s personal guidance to provincial governments in implementing the polio vaccination programme across the country.
Shehbaz described the Gates Foundation as a trusted partner in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and expressed interest in expanding cooperation into public health, agriculture, digital innovation and artificial intelligence.
The prime minister also briefed Gates on the government’s agricultural reforms, with particular emphasis on innovation, biotechnology, climate resilience, research and capacity-building for farmers.
The two sides agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in the development of improved seeds, livestock genetics and emerging agricultural technologies.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continued engagement aimed at strengthening partnerships supporting sustainable development, technological advancement and improved social-sector outcomes for the people of Pakistan.
Recalling Gates’ earlier visits to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz also invited him to visit the country again at his earliest convenience.