Feb 17, 2022: Microsoft co-founder William Henry Gates, better known as Bill Gates, arrived in Islamabad on a one-day visit to Pakistan.
Sources familiar with the matter said that Gates would meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Ali and visit the National Command and Operations Center headquarters on the occasion. Billionaire philanthropist, who is also co-chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is set to play a key role in eradicating polio worldwide, gave a detailed briefing on Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate the virus from the country.
Gates is set to meet President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan during his visit to Pakistan, Special Assistant to PM (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan announced on Thursday.
It is a pleasure to welcome Mr Bill Gates on his first ever visit to Pakistan. Planned engagements include review of progress on polio eradication; visits to NCOC and Ehsaas program as well as meeting the President, the PM and health leadership of the provinces.
— Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) February 17, 2022
Sources added that Gates will also visit the COVID-19 treatment facility in Chak Shehzad before leaving Pakistan this evening.
During his phone call with the PM last year, the co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation discussed polio eradication efforts and the foundation’s support for improving nutrition as well as financial services in Pakistan. The Prime Minister told Gates that only one case of polio virus has been reported in Pakistan in 2021, and reiterated his government’s commitment to eradicate all forms of polio in Pakistan.
Gates praised the Prime Minister for his progress and pledged the Foundation’s continued support for Pakistan’s polio program. The Prime Minister asked the co-founder of Microsoft to consider providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, noting that more than half of the population lives below the poverty line.
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