ISLAMABAD: Billionaire Bill Gates has said that his multinational technology company, Microsoft Corporation, could explore the investment opportunities in Pakistan.
Gates expressed the desire in a letter delivered to Prime Minister Imran Khan by Dr Christopher Elias, President of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Development Division, in a meeting on Tuesday.
He was accompanying WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari.
Elias further said that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation would continue to invest in Pakistan for the eradication of poliovirus and improvement of healthcare system.
The prime minister said Pakistan continues to tackle polio eradication as a national public health emergency.
“Polio vaccination activities are well organised in close collaboration with the provinces and are directly overseen by the national, provincial and divisional task forces,” he said.
Imran welcomed the WHO director general and his delegation to Pakistan, saying Pakistan appreciates the role of WHO in the healthcare system. “The government is determined to implement a transformative social and economic agenda for a ‘New Pakistan’”, he added.
He reiterated his commitment to move forward on sustainable development agenda. He expressed his government’s commitment for eradication of polio from the country.
The prime minister expressed his hope that the WHO would continue as a reliable partner in our efforts to improve healthcare system for all in Pakistan.
Dr Adhanom congratulated the prime minister on his victory in the recent general elections.
Separately, the delegation also called on Foreign Shah Mehmood Qureshi where they briefed him on WHO’s enhanced focus on public health, country-level impacts, ongoing programmes/projects in Pakistan aimed at improving people’s access to health related matters.
WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also shared that WHO had intensified its activities in coordination with the government of Pakistan for polio eradication.
As a result of enhancement efforts, polio from Pakistan would likely be eliminated by end of 2019. He reiterated that the WHO would continue its support to the efforts of government of Pakistan to improve healthcare in the country.
The foreign minister said the WHO had been playing a very important role in the health sector of Pakistan. With regards to polio eradication efforts by the government, the foreign minister emphasised that collaborative efforts at national, provincial and local levels would help in elimination of the disease and make Pakistan a zero polio country.
The foreign minister reiterated that the government remains committed to ensuring provision of quality health facilities to all people at all levels. He assured the delegation of full support in polio eradication and implementation of other health programmes in Pakistan in the days to come.
