ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the Covid-19 condition and polio eradication attempts in Pakistan during a telephone conversation with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister told Mr. Gates of Pakistan’s policy of controlling the pandemic and mitigating its deleterious effects on health and the economy, according to an official press release. Mr Khan talked about the national concerted actions of Pakistan to save people from dying from illness and starvation by ‘intelligent lockdowns.’
Read Also: Mobile phone imports jump 90pc
Noting the recent increase in cases involving Covid-19, the prime minister underlined the resolve of his government to fight the second wave of the pandemic by similar measures. He, however, noticed that it was more difficult this time to enforce basic operating procedures.
Prime Minister Khan recognised the Foundation’s continued support for the Ehsaas Scheme, which would enable Pakistan’s most disadvantaged segments of the population to benefit from its expertise in health, education and financial inclusion.
The Prime Minister welcomed the vigorous advocacy of the Foundation to provide developed countries with secure and reliable Covid-19 vaccines.
Mr Khan reaffirmed that the eradication of polio has remained a primary government priority. While thanking the Foundation for its vital help in building Pakistan’s polio eradication emergency response capability, he said anti-polio campaigns were intensifying across the country. Mr Khan said that Dr Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Health, and his team will continue to work with the Polio Eradication Foundation.
Mr. Gates noted the attempts made by Pakistan to tackle the pandemic of Covid-19 thus promoting economic development.
The Prime Minister and Mr. Gates decided to continue to work closely on the mutual priorities of polio eradication and the war against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Discussion about this post