PM Shehbaz, in his impassioned address, underscored the urgency of immediate action against polio, a disease that knows no borders. Over the past three years, the community, including Bill Gates, has stepped up its financial aid for polio eradication, with Saudi Arabia pledging a substantial $500 million over five years. The federal government and provincial administrations are resolute in their commitment to transform Pakistan into a polio-free nation, a crucial step in the global fight against this debilitating disease.
He said six anti-polio campaigns had been conducted in the last six months while addressing a ceremony organized for children with cancer at Aiwan-e-Iqbal Complex on Sunday evening. They expressed their commitment to holding regular meetings to monitor these efforts. He announced that Pakistan should be made polio-free, where all possible resources would be used so that no stone should be left unturned.
During his speech at the function, Bill Gates, a key partner in our fight against polio, expressed his unwavering commitment to collaborate with Pakistan in eradicating polio and other health sectors. Digitalization projects are among the vital initiatives. In their meeting, PM Shehbaz reiterated that this is one of the government’s top priorities, a collective effort backed by state resources and aimed at safeguarding those employees engaged in the anti-polio drive. He pledged to personally oversee this crucial mission.
Premier Highlights Collaborative Opportunities with Foundations
The Premier also pointed out some areas where both foundations could work together, including closing the gender gap, improving access to healthcare services, ensuring food security, climate adaptation, and financial inclusiveness, noting down various achievements made in these sectors so far by different stakeholders such as UNDP, etc. M. Bill thanked him again, saying I’m confident we will see great things thanks to continued vaccinations and solid governmental commitments.
In a separate meeting, PML-N member of the National Assembly from Okara Mian Muhammad Moeen Wattoo discussed constituency issues and the national political situation with the Prime Minister. Wattoo informed the Prime Minister about the problems in his constituency, and the Prime Minister assured him of solutions for NA-138’s issues, emphasizing the government’s focus on resolving public problems.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a special task force to promote education and implement an educational emergency. The Prime Minister will head the task force, which will include federal education and information technology ministers. The federal education secretary will act as the task force’s convener, and provincial education ministers and secretaries will also participate. The task force will include the World Bank’s country head as co-convener and representatives from UNICEF, UNESCO, WFP, JICA, and ADB. Private educational institutions and universities.
