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Imran Khan has a personality which inspired millions around the world because of his charming leadership qualities and inspiring philanthropic work. Apart from the usual tug and war with the government, Imran has indeed improved governance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and even urged foreign entrepreneurs to invest in the province. Entrepreneurial activities have gained pace since Imran took power and recently, CISCO has agreed to launch training centres in KPK.
We are all aware of his efforts against cancer after he lost his own mother to this fatal ailment. Last month, he raised over ten million for the construction of another cancer hospital. Along with cancer treatments, he has also started working for Polio eradication from Pakistan. During the era of Musharraf’s governance, Pakistan was very close to eliminating Polio but time was not with us. The raising security concerns was the reason that put a hold on achieving the feat of a polio-free country before our long time competitor – India.
Read More: 10 Tweets Suggests That Imran Khan Is Still Standing Strong
Now, Philanthropist and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates has written a letter to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan with regard to polio eradication in Pakistan. He was interested in getting Imran’s opinion for using a mapping technology for the eradication campaign.
The said digital mapping technology has already been implemented in Nigeria with some excellent results. This technology is based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) which helps vaccination teams to determine the area they need to go in order to deliver the polio vaccine. This way instead of going door-to-door throughout the country, the vaccination teams can focus on the affected regions only.
Bill Gates writes in his letter to Imran Khan,
“…….
I am encouraged by your personal commitment to eliminate this disease in Pakistan. Your strong leadership comes at a critical time in our global efforts.
I am interested in your opinion on the use of mapping technology in Pakistan — a technology which has helped Nigeria get close to eradicate polio. I know there are sensitivities around this type of technology, and I look to your guidance on what is appropriate. I’ve asked Dr. Waqar Ajmal to follow up with your team during his current mission.
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Your direct engagement and leadership are essential to ensuring a polio-free future for all of the children of KPK, FATA and Pakistan – and your work will have global reach and recognition.
…….”
You can read the full letter below.
Earlier this month, Bill Gates also appreciated Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s initiatives for polio eradication during a telephonic conversation with Imran Khan. He congratulated Imran on conducting a successful anti-polio campaign, ‘Sehat Ka Ittehad’ (United for Health), in the province. Additionally, he expressed his grief and sorrow over the killing of 131 students in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar.
Point to Ponder: It is interesting to note here that Bill Gates contacted Imran Khan than Pakistani government for this cause.
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