In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has offered the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for eradicating poliomyelitis (polio) in Pakistan.

The billionaire philanthropist, in the letter dated August 16, 2019, pledged to continue working with the relevant authorities in Pakistan to eradicate polio virus from the country.

“Currently, I’m concerned with the polio situation in Pakistan […] Large numbers of children in key reservoirs continue to be missed during polio campaigns, in large part due to sub-optimal management and increased community resistance to vaccination – all of which is allowing the virus to build and continue circulating,” Bill Gates wrote.

“At the request of the National Emergency Operations Center, the foundation’s polio team provided support to an independent management review of Pakistan’s polio program in the high priority districts and those contributing to polio transmission, starting in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Our team is working with the independent management review team and the NEOC to finalize recommendations and develop an implementation plan slated to start before the low season campaigns in November,” the letter added.

The Microsoft co-founder requested PM Khan to endorse the recommendations and implementation plan prepared following the management’s review.

The letter further stated that in June, a meeting was held with Sania Nishtar regarding the government’s poverty alleviation program.

Gates expressed willingness in devising long-term plans regarding the poverty alleviation program and establishing a Program Delivery Unit to help implement the Ehsaas Program’s financial inclusion, nutrition, and other development objectives.