PM Shehbaz, Bill Gates Discuss Polio Eradication, Agriculture and Digital Innovation

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 2026) in New York, where they discussed cooperation in public health, agriculture, technology and social development.

Recalling the Gates Foundation team’s recent visit to Pakistan earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated the foundation’s continued engagement with Pakistan in areas including polio eradication, maternal and child health, nutrition, immunisation, digitisation and financial inclusion.

Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to completely eradicate polio from the country.

He thanked the Gates Foundation for its longstanding support for Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts and expressed his personal commitment to ensuring that the country succeeds in eliminating the disease.

Bill Gates acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts under the prime minister’s leadership and stressed that eliminating polio was essential to protecting future generations from the crippling disease.

He also appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz’s personal guidance to provincial governments in implementing the polio vaccination programme across the country.

The prime minister described the Gates Foundation as a trusted partner in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in public health, agriculture, digital innovation and artificial intelligence.

The discussions also focused on opportunities to use technology and innovation to improve social-sector outcomes and support sustainable development in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz briefed Bill Gates on the government’s ongoing agricultural reforms, particularly initiatives involving innovation, biotechnology, climate resilience, research and capacity-building for farmers.

Both sides agreed to explore potential cooperation in the development of improved seeds, livestock genetics and emerging agricultural technologies.

The collaboration could support Pakistan’s efforts to modernise agriculture, strengthen farmers’ capacity and improve resilience against climate-related challenges.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continued and constructive engagement aimed at strengthening and expanding partnerships supporting sustainable development, technological advancement and improved social-sector outcomes for the people of Pakistan.

Recalling Bill Gates’ earlier visits to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz extended an invitation to him to visit the country again at his earliest convenience.