ISLAMABAD – A US-based billionaire humanitarian, Bill Gates, has announcedto increase financial aid for Pakistan days after President Donald Trumpsuspended military assistance to Islamabad.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in a letter to Minister for NationalHealth Services (NHS) Saira Afzal Tarar hailed efforts made by Pakistan toeradicate polio.
Over new concepts floated by Pakistan regarding innovation in the healthsector, the foundation, in letter, said that a team of experts werereviewing them.
In the letter, the charity group also suggested the NHS ministry toappoint Director General (DG) of Health Dr Asad Hafeez as focal personbetween the ministry and the foundation.
Media reports suggest that Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation wanted toexpand engagements in Pakistan along with polio eradication campaign.
The foundation has routinely provided assistance to Pakistan to combatpolio from the country.
Last week, the Trump administration said that it is not prepared to supportmilitary aid to Pakistan unless the country takes action against theterrorist groups, including Haqqani network.
A day before halting the aid, Trump launched a fresh tirade againstPakistan, saying the United States had foolishly given Pakistan over $33billion in aid over the last 15 years.
In his tweet, Trump said: “The United States has foolishly given Pakistanmore than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they havegiven us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. Theygive safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help.No more”.