ISLAMABAD – Microsoft cofounder and philanthropist Bill Gates on Thursdayattended the meeting of National Task Force for Polio Eradication, on thespecial invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Gates arrived in Islamabad earlier today to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan,President Alvi and other senior government functionaries.
Welcoming Mr. Gates, on his first ever visit to Pakistan, PM Imran thankedthe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its continued support andpartnership with the Government of Pakistan in Polio eradication. The PrimeMinister underlined that his government is fully committed and determinedtowards polio eradication.
Khan said that Afghanistan being the primary source of Polio incidence inour two bordering provinces, requires urgent international support to averthumanitarian crisis including health emergency. “Pakistan is providing fullsupport for the sake of 40 million Afghan people in need of basicamenities.”
The Prime Minister directed Deputy Commissioners of the districts adjoiningAfghanistan borders particularly Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwato remain vigilant and proactive against contamination of polio virus.
According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Bill Gates thanked the premier for inviting him and extending warmhospitality on his first ever visit to Pakistan. He highly appreciated theefforts of the leadership, health workers and parents for workingtirelessly to ensure that polio never paralyzes a child again.
Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Gates added, Pakistan has performedamazingly and has continued with polio vaccinations.
The National Task Force on Polio Eradication paid tributes to the 36frontline workers and 14 law enforcement personnel who lost their livesduring polio vaccination to the children across the country.
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Earlier, the Task Force was briefed that Pakistan has completed one year ofzero polio incidence. However, the virus has been detected in environmentalsamples in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistanprovince.
It was apprised that national level Polio vaccination campaigns have beenlaunched in December, 2021 and January, 2022 with the integration ofroutine immunizations for children. There is effective coordination amongFederal and Provincial Governments with support from Law enforcementsagencies for provision of security in risk areas.
Provincial Governments apprised the meeting about resources allocatedtowards polio campaign and expressed full commitment towards makingPakistan polio free.
Task Force Meeting was attended by SAPM Dr. Faisal Sultan, Governor KhyberPakhtunkhwa Shah Farman, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, ChiefMinister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mehmood Khan, Prime Minister AJ&K Sardar AbdulQayyum Khan Niazi, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Khalid Khurshid,Minister Health Sindh Ms. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Health Minister BalochistanEhsan Shah, representatives of international organizations and seniorofficers. Deputy Commissioners from across Pakistan joined via video link.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had one-on-one meeting with Mr. BillGates. He also hosted a lunch in honour of Bill Gates that was attended byFederal Ministers Shaukat Tarin, Asad Umer, Fawad Ahmed, Khusro Bakhtiar,SAPM Dr. Faisal Sultan, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Ministers ofPunjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Prime Minister AJ&K.
