On Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan met Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in the sidelines Of UNGA. The philanthropic organization Gates Foundation has pledged to provide $200mn support for Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Ehsaas Program, a poverty alleviation project.
A memorandum of understanding was signed by both parties in a meeting held in New York. Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chairperson of the ‘Ehsaas Program’ was also present in the meeting. Dr. Sania Nishtar and President of Global Development at B&MGF Dr. Chris Elias inked the MoU.
The global outcry followed the announcement of Gates Foundation to award PM Modi for the construction of toilets across India.
According to the MOU, $200mn will be spent on the 134 poverty alleviation project. Speaking on the occasion, the premier asserted the program is a big project in the history of Pakistan and he is pleased that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will assist the range of activities related to the program. PM added that the Ehsaas program will turn Pakistan into a welfare state, adding that poverty alleviation was on the top priority of his government since day one.
PM Imran Khan, Dr. Sania Nishtar, SAPM to PM on Social Protection,
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, & Chris Elias, President of Global Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, participated in a bilateral meeting on the future of Ehsaas. pic.twitter.com/hWbIBukNG2— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 26, 2019
The successful achievement of the Ehsaas Program will help Pakistan achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
The Gates Foundation is already supporting projects for the eradication of poliovirus from Pakistan. In August, Gates had written the letter to PM Khan reiterating his support for the Polio-Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of polio eradication efforts in Pakistan.
During the meeting with Bill Gates, PM Imran Khan expressed full commitment to put measures in place to end polio once and for all. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to spend about $200 million in Pakistan in 2020.@BillGates #UNGA #UNGA74 pic.twitter.com/Fl1HHvVllX
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 26, 2019
"Ehsaas" have covered a range of shared development priorities. The new collaboration continues the foundation’s more than decade-long work in Pakistan. #UNGA #UNGA74
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 26, 2019
The Ehsaas initiative is a multi-dimensional initiative aimed at reducing inequality, investing in people, and lifting lagging districts. It has three components interest-free loans, vocational and skills training, and asset transfers. It also has three distinguishing features — consolidation of resources, synergy through partnerships, and a focus on governance.
Read more: Dr. Sania teams up with Bill Gates against polio and poverty
Recently, Bill Gates had been under severe dissension worldwide for his refusal to rescind his decision to award PM Modi, the Global Goalkeeper’s Award. The global outcry followed the announcement of Gates Foundation to award PM Modi for the construction of toilets across India. Even a staff resigned from the foundation in a bid to protest the foundation’s decision.
While social media hailed the decision, they also demanded PM Khan to request Bill Gates to open a regional office in Pakistan, to provide employment to Pakistani IT experts and thrive IT industry in Pakistan.