PM Imran urges Bill Gates to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghan people
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Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates to consider providing humanitarian assistance to poverty-stricken people in Afghanistan.
In a telephonic conversation on Tuesday, the prime minister highlighted that more than half the population in the war-torn country was living below the poverty line and in dire need of financial assistance.
The two leaders shared their concerns regarding the health system in Afghanistan — the only other country in the world that is polio-endemic along with Pakistan, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Expressing their resolve to eradicate the infectious disease from both countries, they discussed the resumption of polio campaigns in Afghanistan to secure Pakistan's recent gains in the elimination of the poliovirus.
**Read more: Pakistan, Afghanistan will enhance cooperation to stop polio transmission
The premier apprised Gates of Pakistan's "continued progress" against polio eradication and appreciated the invaluable assistance provided by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in that regard.
He added that the country had reported only one case of wild poliovirus (WPV) this year and positive WPV environmental samples had decreased substantially.
He stressed that his government remained committed to ending all forms of polio in the country.
Gates praised PM Imran for the progress and pledged his Foundation's continued support to the Pakistan polio programme for ensuring that no child in Pakistan was at risk of paralysis due to poliovirus.
The tech billionaire also congratulated the prime minister for Pakistan's Covid-19 vaccine roll-out and noted the Foundation's support of government-led programmes, including Ehsaas, which was "making impressive progress in reducing stunting, and the digitisation of the National Savings Programme".
He offered his continued collaboration through the Gates Foundation to improve the health and well-being of the people in Pakistan.
The prime minister thanked Gates for his Foundation's valuable partnership with Pakistan.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (86) Closed
Oct 06, 2021 12:26pm
Microsoft has no offices in Kabul. So there is little reason for BG to even get involved in personal aid.
It is all about risks and rewards. Afghanistan, due to its proven corruption and violence, is all risk, but little rewards.
Ask the American government, which invested over $2 Trillion in the country.
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Oct 06, 2021 12:37pm
"the prime minister highlighted that more than half the population in the war-torn country was living below the poverty line and in dire need of financial assistance."
That's not so bad. Considering Lebanon - the former Switzerland of the M. East now has 80% of the population living in poverty, with few jobs hyper-inflation, ineffective government, few foreign donors or investors and no tourists anymore.
Yet, even France is not rushing aid to its former colony, despite all the assurances.
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Oct 06, 2021 12:38pm
How about Pakistani people IK?
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Oct 06, 2021 12:38pm
Focus on yourself more, and less on other countries. Did we elect him to be the PM for Pakistan or Afghanistan?
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Oct 06, 2021 12:39pm
IK helping Afghan people (Taliban actually) by using ONLY expertise he has got!
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Oct 06, 2021 12:39pm
Great move
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Oct 06, 2021 12:41pm
Why Bill Gates? Why not Malik Riaz, Mian Mansha etc?
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Oct 06, 2021 12:44pm
Once again, the dynamic, visionary and debonair Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is 100 percent right.
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Oct 06, 2021 12:46pm
He is only good at begging.
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Oct 06, 2021 12:47pm
Perhaps, Afghan leaders themselves need to be making such requests.
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Oct 06, 2021 12:55pm
Good one, could you kindly also ask the 700 Pandora list people to chip in!!
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Oct 06, 2021 12:57pm
Who will provide Humanitarian Assistance to us? Please do something for Pakistan as you told us before elections.
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Oct 06, 2021 01:02pm
So Taliban outsourced begging to IK! He does have prior experience though
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Oct 06, 2021 01:05pm
let just wait 2 years when BG gives aid to pakistan and afghanistan and IK says that the aid was a conspiracy to topple his government
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Oct 06, 2021 01:06pm
Fake Khan always working for other countries.
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Oct 06, 2021 01:06pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, do you mean begging ?
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Oct 06, 2021 01:06pm
Bill Gates is better aware of worse humanitarian crises in Yemen and South Sudan than Afghanistan. IK has made fool of himself by selectively singling out Afghanistan for humanitarian aid.
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Oct 06, 2021 01:09pm
Bill Gates is a secular, liberal and anti-faith guy, not only that he is immoral. With all his success he is pushing "The Me" agenda to glorify and pushing making the globe subservient to him. Mr. Khan stop begging and open u own chest and cease money of feudal, bureaucrats and cheating business community.
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Oct 06, 2021 01:16pm
What's wrong with him, how about improving the lives of ordinary Pakistanis...Afghans are Afghanistan's responsibility.
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Oct 06, 2021 01:16pm
Imran Khan the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan?
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Oct 06, 2021 01:17pm
@Hope786,
By the same token, why not your people?
Modi G broke all records, begged 40 countries at once after Covid mishandling, and still is the biggest recipient of aid in the world as always.
So, such sanctimonious lectures coming from you don't sound convincing!!
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Oct 06, 2021 01:19pm
Imran used to be good at Charity Fund Raising. Continues that for Afghanistan... with little or no result.
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Oct 06, 2021 01:19pm
Why should the world give a NRO to Afghan Taliban?
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Oct 06, 2021 01:21pm
@Skeptic,
Spiteful cross-border trolls really want children, women and people of Afghanistan to suffer after seeing their $3 billion investment wasted there!
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Oct 06, 2021 01:24pm
@Farhan khan,
So, as always, you admit you need Humanitarian Assistance in India too, "Farhan khan"??
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Oct 06, 2021 01:24pm
Trained them for open source software
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Oct 06, 2021 01:24pm
The Prime Minister should ask help for Pakistan first. The issue with water supply is a real threat.
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Oct 06, 2021 01:28pm
@Falcon1, "Microsoft has no offices in Kabul. So there is little reason for BG to even get involved in personal aid."
Microsoft already provides polio assistance there.
Trigger-happy cross-border trolls, should read the news first before jumping to write!!
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Oct 06, 2021 01:30pm
Is he is a PM of pakistan or Afghanistan or he is considering both countries as one and consider himsrlf as an ambassador of barbaric Taliban
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Oct 06, 2021 01:31pm
@Falcon1, Everyone does not think like you. Bill Gates helps the needy who ever they might be... not only Christians.
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Oct 06, 2021 01:50pm
the aid should be conditional on taliban support for eradicating polio from Afghanistan. The taliban must push the vaccine using their foot soldiers and inoculate their people. Only this way, will the entire region and the world be free from polio.
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Oct 06, 2021 01:53pm
@Hope786, what did nawaz shareef do exactly? or mr moodi next door?
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Oct 06, 2021 01:54pm
Pleading for who? And on whose behalf......people finding it difficult to run everyday life in the country.......looks like khan has other priorities.......Mr pm......pls don't make me repent that u voted for you
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Oct 06, 2021 01:54pm
For people of Pakistan increase in electricity, gas, edible items etc., for Afghanistan, dollars from Bill Gates.
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Oct 06, 2021 01:55pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, ur funny...
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Oct 06, 2021 02:00pm
@Falcon1, USA did not "invest" 2 Trillion dollars in Afghanistan!
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Oct 06, 2021 02:06pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, to beg is not a vision
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Oct 06, 2021 02:06pm
@Salman, As opposed to Sharifs and Zardaris who were only good at looting and lining their pockets?
I rather take a beggar who does not keep the money in his pocket, than the one who tears the shirt off my back!
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Oct 06, 2021 02:16pm
He begs for others too.what an achievment mr Imran khan.wish he would take care of the country first.
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Oct 06, 2021 02:17pm
@Falcon1, you realize Bill Gates hasn't had anything to do with Microsoft in over a decade?
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Oct 06, 2021 02:17pm
Why not ask the 700 of own countrymen on the list with their overseas hidden dollars!?
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Oct 06, 2021 02:19pm
What has happened to him??? Is he really the PM of Pakistan.
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Oct 06, 2021 02:21pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, which vision does he have?? What has he achieved in 3 years? He is master of U-turn and always lied to the nation.
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Oct 06, 2021 02:33pm
Charity should begin from home.
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Oct 06, 2021 02:33pm
Melinda's signature needed
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Oct 06, 2021 02:48pm
No wonder all countries will shy away from you as you will be asking free money from them for us or Afghanistan without giving anything in return, PMIK, please keep our dignity and stop this.
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Oct 06, 2021 02:49pm
IK has gone down to personal level begging!
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Oct 06, 2021 02:51pm
Looks like Bill Gates is not as exited as IK on the meeting. No tweet yet from him.
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Oct 06, 2021 02:51pm
Taliban are sitting pretty enjoying new found power while we are going begging on their behalf, stop it please.
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Oct 06, 2021 02:52pm
So, did Bill Gates accept or reject his request?
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Oct 06, 2021 02:55pm
Afghan people do not want IK to speak on their behalf.
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Oct 06, 2021 03:14pm
Afghanees in the West are enemies of Pakistan and call for sanctions against it.
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Oct 06, 2021 03:25pm
Did imran mention, how since he came to power he has dragged over 50% Pakistanis below poverty line?? Is he the PM of afghanistan? Who will care for Pakistan?
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Oct 06, 2021 03:38pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, As always, over-exaggerated analysis, attempt at flamboyance and far removed from the reality!
No body is always '100% right" all the time!
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Oct 06, 2021 03:40pm
Looks like Bill Gates is not as exited as IK on the meeting. No tweet from his side yet.
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Oct 06, 2021 03:50pm
Correction, Gates is a businessman, not a leader.
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Oct 06, 2021 03:50pm
Although he doesn’t accept openly, PMIK has a great love for Talibans. Despite international concerns, he doesn’t flinch on finding round about ways asking for assistance to Talibans. On top of it, pardoning TTP is unthinkable.
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Oct 06, 2021 03:54pm
@Hope786, are you in worse condition than Afghan brothers and sisters? criticize him 24/7 no issues, but where Pak matters I guess you should support PM. with this message, you look like you need everything for yourself without taking into consideration basic human and Islamic values, tolerance, and sharing. regret.
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Oct 06, 2021 03:58pm
Why isn’t the Taliban government reaching out to the world for the people of their country. Their ego doesn’t allow it, are IK and SMQ ordered to beg ? Something doesn’t sound right.
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Oct 06, 2021 04:09pm
What an embarrassment imran turned out to be, instead of saving money he kept the biggest cabinet (+gangs of SAPMs). Then he nearly doubled Pakistan foreign debt in three years with zero big project. Now he begs not only for himself but also for Afghanistan project
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Oct 06, 2021 04:09pm
@Falcon1, hats off to your wisdom, do you think Bill really need a MS office in Afg for humanitarian aid?????????????????????????
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Oct 06, 2021 04:19pm
What an audacity !
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Oct 06, 2021 04:22pm
Why not the rich Saudis and the super rich Kuwait and Emirates who are their ideological brothers.
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Oct 06, 2021 04:26pm
So what happened to Ummah and Iron brothers, they are not helping out?
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Oct 06, 2021 04:38pm
Why are you so empathetic about Afghan issue. We too have too many domestic issues in Pakistan
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Oct 06, 2021 04:56pm
@Hope786, Already supporting and been supporting for 40+ years. There's something called history, read it. :)
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Oct 06, 2021 05:15pm
again begging ,will he ever stop ?
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Oct 06, 2021 05:21pm
Imran Khan's obsession with Afghanistan is amazing and truly surprising
for us the people of Pakistan.
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Oct 06, 2021 05:48pm
@Hope786, Well said, Pakistani leaders should follow Bangladesh as an example.
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Oct 06, 2021 05:50pm
@Humza, Once an all rounder, always an all rounder!!!.
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Oct 06, 2021 05:53pm
Mr. Prime Minister just concentrate on Pakistan.
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Oct 06, 2021 05:57pm
PMIK urges Gates. Gates is already doing ton of humanitarian to Africa.
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Oct 06, 2021 06:07pm
All humans have minds, the challenge is to use this faculty to the best possible use. Begging and asking others for help is the very last resort, Pakistan and Afghanistan have to learn on how to use their minds, to be able to stand on their two feet. Why even think about asking others for help, it is a great shame, a great insult to the human spirit.
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Oct 06, 2021 06:16pm
Definitely need to stay away from this guy. He only cares about money.
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Oct 06, 2021 06:55pm
@bhaRAT©, That's precisely his point. Modi 'begged' for aid to Indians and not to a pariah regime installed by him elsewhere which is what your PM is doing
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Oct 06, 2021 07:11pm
@Falcon1,
I wonder why Americans who finally left have any patience to give free $$$ to Taliban and for what, they have invested over 2 billion, not likely to spend more now.
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Oct 06, 2021 07:15pm
There we go again!
Afghanistan Talibans Afghanistan Talibans
Excuse me, IK aren’t you the PM of Pakistan?
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Oct 06, 2021 07:28pm
@Hope786, And what about Indian people ... who live in abject poverty ....
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Oct 06, 2021 07:39pm
Why is our prime minister so heavily involved in Afghanistan.
We have enough issues that require sorting such as access to regular clean water, uninterrupted gas and electricity and proper jobs for our younger generation.
The PM is elected to represent us - Pakistanis.
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Oct 06, 2021 07:43pm
Good move.
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Oct 06, 2021 07:45pm
Why Afghanistan? Ask for Pakistan first. Pakistan is not any better than Afghanistan.
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Oct 06, 2021 07:47pm
IK is speaking for Afghanistan as a good human being until Taliban have been recognized by world govts. Afghan people need help now. Gates should be invited to Afghanistan BY new Taliban govt and his help sought. Lives must be saved now by food and safety of all Afghanis.
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Oct 06, 2021 10:28pm
Why IK is fighting for Afghanistan?
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Oct 06, 2021 11:00pm
Why ik is after American rich individual people, are there not rich in his Muslim umma, after all all the hate he has for western world
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Oct 07, 2021 02:24am
How many Chinese billionaires he’s asked?
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Oct 07, 2021 06:52am
@Humza, he us khan. He will support his people.
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