ISLAMABAD: Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates met Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday during his first-ever visit to Pakistan.
PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan said Gates “greatly appreciated steps [regarding polio eradication] in Pakistan, the NCOC’sperformance related to coronavirus and initiatives such as Ehsaas programme”. He also attended a luncheon in his honour later in the day.
Gates has held conversations with Prime Minister Imran in the past on various issues and their possible solutions. In October last year, the premier urged Gates to consider providing humanitarian assistance to poverty-stricken people in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI‘s luncheon in honor of @BillGates
Mr. Bill Gates is visiting Pakistan at the special invitation of the Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/zSYNI6ddki
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) February 17, 2022
Bill Gates visits NCOC headquarter
Earlier in the day, Gates visited the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) headquarters for a morning session and met Planning and Development Minister and NCOC head Asad Umar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan.
In a statement, the NCOC said the philanthropist was informed about the NCOC’s role and methodology, achievements since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, coronavirus situation in Pakistan as well as the non-pharmaceutical interventions by the forum to control the spread of the disease.
READ MORE: PM Imran Khan, Bill Gates discuss polio eradication
Gates and his delegation were also told about genome sequencing and coronavirus variants detected in Pakistan, “Gates took keen interest on various initiatives by NCOC, particularly smart lockdown and micro-smart lockdown strategy enforcement measures and Pakistan’s vaccine administration regime which enabled NCOC to formulate and implement a comprehensive Covid response,” the statement added.
During his visit to the NCOC, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation chairman also shared his views on the pandemic, especially the vaccination drive. “Gates appreciated Pakistan’s success against Covid-19 despite resource constraints and introducing excellent initiatives and measures for public health safety,” according to the statement.
Umar thanked Gates for his foundation’s support to Pakistan during Covid-19 pandemic. Gates also lauded Pakistan for introducing excellent initiatives and measures for public health safety.
