PM Kakar discusses Social Support Initiatives with Bill Gates. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar met Mr. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The meeting took place in Davos on the sidelines of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.

Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar appreciated the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s ongoing collaboration with Pakistan. He particularly appreciated its critical support across such sectors as public health, social initiatives, and financial inclusion, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic and the floods of 2022.

The Prime Minister and Mr. Gates discussed a range of social support initiatives being undertaken in Pakistan, emphasizing the need to further consolidate the gains while scaling up efforts throughout the country.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is managing multiple social protection and development programs in Pakistan. It has provided support to integrate BISP payments with RAAST-an instant payment system to enable interoperability and choice for the beneficiaries. This program is managed under Inclusive Financial Systems with a cost of $4,000,000. Moreover, it has supported Vital Pakistan Trust for prevention of enteric infections, improve immunization coverage and decrease mortaility in infants and young children by expanding primary health care services. It includes nutritional services and routine immunization activities in Karachi division. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided $9,847,902 for this project.

More from TNF: Pakistan launches Indigenous Research and Development Agency

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has also supported Pakistan to handle the Covid-19 crisis with a grant of over $2 million. The Covid-19 grant was given to National Institute of Health in Islamabad. The grant was provided to strengthen the public health response to Covid-19 in Pakistan. It was a key regional partner in South Asia, through support for epidemiological and laboratory capabilities.