ISLAMABAD – Chairman Microsoft Corporation and Bill Gates Foundation Mr Bill Gates Wednesday telephoned President Asif Ali Zardari.
Spokesperson to the President Mr Farhatullah Babar said that Bill Gates talked about health related issues in Pakistan particularly the progress made on the Polio Eradication campaign which is being undertaken by the government of Pakistan in collaboration with the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation.
The President appreciated and lauded the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation for providing generous contribution and support to the government of Pakistan for the noble cause of polio eradiation and making Pakistan a polio free country.
The President said that the government of Pakistan has launched National Emergency Action Plan 2011 for Polio Eradication and informed Bill Gates that he has directed health department for vigorous implementation of the Plan in all parts of the country particularly the tribal areas to make Pakistan a polio free country.
The President said that he was pleased that the entire leadership of the country have endorsed the new National Emergency Plan and are fully geared to take forward the emergency action plan on polio. The President assured there will be strict oversight of the plan at the national and provincial levels through monitoring cells.
The President said that government is taking all possible steps to and are working on a fast track emergency plan with the support of security forces to ensure access to children and households in the security sensitive areas so that not even a single child is left without Polio vaccination in the country.
Bill Gates thanked the President for the firm commitment of the democratic government towards polio eradication in the country and assured all out support of Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation in the anti polio drive and complete eradication of Polio from Pakistan.
The President thanked Bill Gates for the gesture and expressed the hope that his Foundation will continue to work in Pakistan for the social welfare and uplift of the downtrodden people of Pakistan.
