ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged Microsoft, the world’s largest technology company, to set up an incubation facility in Pakistan.
On Wednesday night, the premier, who has been working to recruit foreign investment since taking office, spoke by phone with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who is also Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
The Prime Minister encouraged Microsoft to extend its footprint in Pakistan, citing Pakistan’s potential in the Information Technology (IT) sector and the government’s business-friendly IT policies.
The opening of Microsoft’s incubation centers will not only help the independent software vendors but also take the IT industry of Pakistan to a new height.
Polio Eradication
Views were also exchanged on Pakistan’s ongoing polio eradication drive as well as the country’s reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic’s public health problems.
The premier praised the BMGF’s efforts to improve the socioeconomic status of the world’s poorest people, particularly through encouraging universal access to health care and battling infectious diseases.
He was especially grateful for the BMGF’s collaboration with Pakistan in the fight against polio. Despite the obstacles provided by the COVID-19 situation, the Prime Minister emphasised that polio eradication remained a top national priority for the government, and that serious efforts were ongoing to intensify the anti-polio campaign across the country in order to achieve a polio-free Pakistan.
The Prime Minister expressed his delight with the meaningful progress made in the country earlier this month (7-11 June 2021), when a special polio eradication campaign was begun, during which vaccine drops were provided to over 33 million children under the age of five.
He hoped that, with the help of all partners, Polio will be eradicated shortly. Mr. Bill Gates thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership in this national cause. Mr. Gates went on to say that while progress is encouraging, maintaining pressure will be the key to permanently eliminating transmission.
The Prime Minister also emphasised Pakistan’s efforts to combat the country’s third wave of corona virus.
Prime Minister Imran Khan met with POB leadership and assembled the National Task Force on Polio Eradication during a high-level GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative) Polio Oversight Board (POB) mission visit to Pakistan in early June.
source: PakObserver.net
