Bill Gates Foundation delegation to visit Pakistan today

PESHAWAR: In the wake of the deteriorating polio situation in Pakistan, a delegation of the Bill Gates Foundation will be reaching the country on Thursday on a seven day emergency trip.

The delegation is visiting at a time when Pakistan 's 18-year record of polio cases has been broken, while 303 polio cases in children have surfaced last year.

The delegation comprises of four members headed by special representative of Bill Gates, Dr Waqar Ajmal.

Sources at the Ministry of Health told Geo News that during their visit, the delegation would be meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

During their seven day visit to different parts of the country, the delegation will express their concerns to the Pakistani leadership regarding polio, specially in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where combating polio is a grave concern.

The Bill Gates Foundation has played a very important role in the eradication of polio across various countries, specially Africa, and its visit to Pakistan comes at a time of dire need when it is also expected that more polio cases will officially be documented.