ISLAMABAD: One of the founders of Microsoft, the leading US philanthropist Bill Gates, has praised the Pakistan Army for supporting the anti-polio drive in the country, during a phone call to General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday.
In the call to Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Gates “acknowledged supporting efforts by Pakistan Army for successfully eradicating polio from Pakistan,” according to an official handout circulated by the military’s public relations wing.
Mounting security challenges in recent years have made it increasingly difficult to run anti-polio campaigns in different parts of the country.
Militant groups frequently targeted polio workers, killing a number of vaccinators. As a result, it became difficult for the state to protect young children from the debilitating disease. This problem was not just a factor in the tribal territories, but also in some major urban centers.
Then the army stepped in to provide protection to the health workers, making it possible to continue to run anti-polio campaigns and undertake the mammoth task of vaccinating millions of children.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has made eradicating polio from different parts of the world one of its key campaigns.
General Bajwa applauded Bill the Foundation for pursuing a wide range of noble causes across the world and assured the US business magnate that the army would continue to provide “full cooperation in best interests of Pakistan.”
Bill Gates praises Pakistan’s army for protecting anti-polio drive campaigners
Bill Gates praises Pakistan’s army for protecting anti-polio drive campaigners
- Militant groups frequently targeted polio workers in Pakistan, killing a number of vaccinators, causing hindrance in protecting young children from the debilitating disease
- The army stepped in to provide protection for the health workers, making it possible to continue to run anti-polio campaigns and vaccinating millions of children
Dozens of migrants brought to Malta after boat capsizes
- The group was rescued by Maltese armed forces boats and landed in Bugibba
- The migrants could be seen huddled in blankets
VALLETTA: Some 60 African migrants were brought to Malta on Friday after their boat capsized close to the Mediterranean island, one of the biggest groups to arrive in recent years.
The group was rescued by Maltese armed forces boats and landed in Bugibba, 10 miles north of Valletta. Eyewitnesses said several ambulances and many police were on the site.
The migrants could be seen huddled in blankets. Some were carried away on stretchers. Rescue officials said one of the arrivals was in poor medical condition.
Migrant arrivals on small boats in Malta have become relatively rare, with just over 200 coming in 2024 compared to more than 2,000 in 2020. Most leave from Libya, heading for Italy.
During a meeting in Malta on November 29, home affairs ministers from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain and Malta declared that strengthening relations with countries of origin and transit was “key” to addressing irregular migration.
Maltese Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said during the meeting: “Our position is to save people. If you deserve asylum, you will get it. If not, then you will be sent back.”
Most of Malta’s migrant arrivals now come to the island on flights from Italy, overstay and work irregularly.
Malta has been working with Libya to prevent migrant departures and has provided training for its coast guard. Camilleri told the ministers in November that every sea voyage taken by irregular asylum seekers carried a risk of death, thus, “by working with Libya and preventing crossings, we are also saving lives.”
“Europe must be the one to decide who comes in,” he said.
