Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bill Gates have discussed expanding cooperation in agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital innovation and public health. The Shehbaz Sharif Bill Gates meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz appreciated the Gates Foundation’s continued engagement with Pakistan. The foundation has supported initiatives involving polio eradication, maternal and child health, nutrition, immunisation, digitisation and financial inclusion.
During the Shehbaz Sharif Bill Gates meeting, the prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating polio. He thanked the Gates Foundation for its longstanding support and said he remained personally committed to completing the eradication effort across the country.
Gates acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts and stressed the importance of ending polio to protect future generations. He also appreciated the prime minister’s guidance to provincial governments in implementing the national polio vaccination programme.
The prime minister also briefed Gates on agricultural reforms being pursued by the government. The discussion covered innovation, biotechnology, climate resilience, agricultural research and efforts to improve farmers’ skills and capacity.
Both sides agreed to explore cooperation in areas including improved seeds, livestock genetics and emerging agricultural technologies. The discussions also included opportunities to expand collaboration in AI and digital innovation, alongside ongoing work in public health.
The Shehbaz Sharif Bill Gates meeting concluded with an agreement to maintain constructive engagement and explore partnerships supporting sustainable development and technological progress in Pakistan. Shehbaz also invited Gates to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
