ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating polio on Wednesday, stating that the government was taking concrete steps to eliminate the disease from the country at the earliest.
The prime minister made these remarks during a meeting with Dr Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who was accompanied by Dr Kathy Neuzil, Director of Polio, and Michael Galway, Deputy Director of Polio.
The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office. A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said that Sharif highlighted the government’s determination to collaborate with international partners, such as the Gates Foundation, to ensure the complete eradication of polio.
He paid tribute to Bill Gates for his invaluable support to Pakistan’s anti-polio efforts, expressing gratitude for the ongoing cooperation from the Gates Foundation and Muslim countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.
While acknowledging the progress made in combating the disease, the prime minister stressed that further urgent measures were necessary.
He stated that the federal government was working closely with provincial governments to ensure polio vaccination teams could access all regions of the country.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal briefed the delegation on the government’s ongoing initiatives under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) aimed at bolstering the fight against polio.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal thanked both the prime minister for his leadership and the Gates Foundation team for their cooperation, reaffirming the government’s resolve to continue efforts more effectively. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication, also gave a briefing to the delegation on the initiatives being implemented across all provinces and cities to eradicate polio.
In response, Dr Elias praised the prime minister’s “personal attention” to the polio eradication campaign and commended the effective steps being taken by Pakistan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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