Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates discussed expanding cooperation in public health, agriculture, digital innovation and artificial intelligence. The development came during PM Shehbaz’s meeting with Bill Gates on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 2026), the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement on Wednesday. Recalling the Gates Foundation team’s visit to Pakistan earlier this month, the prime minister appreciated the foundation’s engagement with Pakistan to support polio eradication, maternal and child health, nutrition, immunisation, digitisation, and financial inclusion. PM Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to ensure complete eradication of polio from the country. He thanked the Gates Foundation for its longstanding assistance in the important endeavour and expressed his personal commitment to polio eradication. Acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts under the prime minister’s leadership, Bill Gates stressed that polio eradication was vital to protect future generations from this crippling disease. He appreciated the prime minister’s personal guidance to the provincial governments for the polio vaccine program across the country. The prime minister complimented the Gates Foundation for being a trusted partner in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and expressed interest in broadening collaboration in areas including public health, agriculture, digital innovation and AI. PM also apprised Gates of the agricultural reforms that the government was undertaking, with particular emphasis on innovation, biotechnology, climate resilience, research, and capacity-building for farmers. The two sides agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration in the development of improved seeds, livestock genetics and emerging agricultural technologies. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continued and constructive engagement with a view to further strengthening and expanding partnerships that support sustainable development, technological advancement and improved social sector outcomes for the people of Pakistan. While recalling his earlier visits, PM Shehbaz extended an invitation to Gates to undertake a visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
PM Shehbaz, Bill Gates eye collaboration in agri-tech, AI
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