PM Shehbaz Reaffirms Commitment To Eradicate Polio In Meeting With Gates Foundation Delegation
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 10th Sep, 2026) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan was firmly committed to completely eradicating polio, as he met with a delegation from the Gates Foundation.
The delegation, which called on the prime minister, included Kalpana Kochhar and Anita Zaidi, representatives of the Gates Foundation. According to a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister appreciated the Gates Foundation’s continued support and partnership with Pakistan amid the country’s developmental challenges.
He stated that the National Polio Eradication Programme enjoyed patronage at the highest level, highlighting the government’s determination to eliminate the crippling disease. PM Shehbaz further noted the Gates Foundation’s commendable role in polio eradication, health, nutrition, financial inclusion, and the welfare of vulnerable segments of society.
The prime minister discussed key reform priorities including digital payments, food security, maternal and newborn health, poverty alleviation, and climate change as part of the government’s governance reforms agenda. He emphasized that a cashless economy was a fundamental aspect of the government’s transformation agenda, aiming to simplify life for ordinary citizens, enhance transparency in government systems, and ensure timely and efficient distribution of public funds.
He added that digital payments were gaining traction due to collaborative efforts between the government and the Gates Foundation, and expressed a desire to partner with them on initiatives focusing on women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment.
During the meeting, further strengthening cooperation and partnership between Pakistan and the Gates Foundation was also discussed.
