By News Desk
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has had a telephone conversation with billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, in which Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio and the establishment of a “Microsoft Incubation Lab” came under discussion.
In the conversation with the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) on Wednesday night, the Prime Minister’s discussion with him also centred on Pakistan’s response to public health challenges amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
While mentioning Pakistan's potential in the information technology sector and the government’s business friendly IT policy, the Prime Minister encouraged Microsoft to further expand its footprint in Pakistan.
The Prime Minister also encouraged Gates to consider setting up a Microsoft Incubation Lab in Pakistan. The Prime Minister appreciated the BMGF’s work for the socio-economic uplift of the most disadvantaged people around the globe, especially to promote universal access to health services and combating infectious diseases. He expressed gratitude, in particular, for BMGF’s partnership with Pakistan to rid the country of polio.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed that polio eradication remains a key national priority for the government. He mentioned that a special polio eradication campaign was launched in the country earlier this month (June 7-11), during which drops were administered to over 33 million children under five years of age.
The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction over the substantive progress in cutting the transmission of the poliovirus in the country. He hoped that polio would be eradicated soon with the support of all partners.
Gates expressed his appreciation for the Prime Minister’s leadership for this national cause, saying that while the progress was encouraging, keeping up pressure would be the key to ending transmission for good.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to overcome the third wave of coronavirus in the country.
The telephone call follows the high-level GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative) Polio Oversight Board (POB) delegation visit to Pakistan in early June, when Prime Minister Imran Khan met POB leadership and had convened the National Task Force on Polio Eradication.
The new GPEI Polio Eradication Strategy was launched on 10 June 2021 in a global (virtual) event featuring high-level participation from Pakistan.