Bill Gates. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Tuesday offered support to the new government of Pakistan in the health sector, aiming to extend financial and technical assistance.
Special Representative of Bill Gates and Melinda Foundation for Afghanistan and Pakistan Dr Waqar Ajmal called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today and delivered a letter from Gates, congratulating Nawaz on his election as prime minister.
Gates expressed confidence that the new government in Pakistan would focus on the immunisation and eradication of fatal diseases including polio.
Prime Minister Nawaz welcomed the offer and reiterated the government’s resolve to eradicate diseases.
Earlier, Gates had contacted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, seeking his assistance in eradicating polio from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
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@Muslim Leaguer: LOL yeah exactly it's because he's the trusted leader who got his "voters" beat up for protesting against loadshedding. A dictator wouldn't even do that. Good job, this is exactly what our country deserves. :)
Thanks Billy. Don't send cash just the vaccine or you will make the richest more richest.
When I read the headline, I knew it had to do with polio. If the locals want to be crippled, why force polio drops on them? Let them be!
Most of the world leaders trust PMLN Government and rightly so!
Pakistan and Pakistanis have to step up first to fix its house in order. Many others like Bill Gates will be attracted automatically. End corruption, get stolen wealth back, bring police reform and above all Education for EVERY single child. Then see Miracles start coming to Pakistan.
Good will gesture,Bill gate is great..
It is good gesture by Bill Gates and his charity organization Bill Gates and Melinda Foundation to extend financial and technical assistance focusing on the immunisation and eradication of fatal diseases like polio.
It is great news--we hope that this will not turn into SEHAT MAND PANJAB. we have to learn lessons from such philanthropists and reflect on our attitude and behavior they are pouring their money to help us and we are not even able to ensure safety of our workers. when it come to charity we Muslims give it but disorganized way not to deserving people. Our clerks and religious political leaders should follow Bill Gate and Melinda and contribute to well-being of the community.
I see.... some portion of price I paid for Windows 8 is going towards Pakistan. Good!
Dear Mr Gates, the biggest disease Pakistan suffers from is greed and corruption and I'm unaware of any vaccine that can cure it.
great gesture from bill gates. wonder if steve jobs had ever done any charity?
We love the Aid from West ...keep rolling the money and Ghairatmand and Self Righteous Pakistanis will remain happy.
OK- Finally Gates belatedly realises that funds going to KP gov is basically going to the clergy partners in KP !
Having said that I think the Pakistani nation should be very thankful to the billionaire American whose Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spends more per annum in charity than all Muslim nations combined !
Key to note is that his philanthropy efforts are not directed to any specific demography and most of it goes to the muslim nations in Africa to eradicate diseases and for capacity building.
Only if our people stopped thinking of charity as a tool to gather 'sawab' and channelled to Muslims only rather than to help the humanity at-large irrespective of wherever it exists !
People like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are the true heroes of our time ! Nations that produce them (USA) deserve to be congratulated.
The government can also offer stipend to the couple who bring their children for vaccination at designated places. The allocation of money for polio affected FATA and KP would surely be not more than the funds of Benazir income support programme and will hopefully bear much needed, good and quick results.
The government has to improve the cold chain system at grass root level, stipend and conveyance for vaccine administrators, security and engagment of local influencials particularly the religious clerics for eradicating polio.