ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and American business tycoon and philanthropist Bill Gates spoke on telephone about Pakistan’s COVID-19 response and resumption of anti-polio campaign, said an official handout prepared and circulated by the military’s public relations wing, ISPR, on Saturday.
Gates applauded the Pakistan Army for supporting the anti-polio drive and ensuring the program’s proper reach and coverage.
In response, the army chief said that the effort to make Pakistan polio-free was a “national cause,” adding that the credit for running an effective campaign went to “grassroots workers, including mobile teams, law enforcement agencies and healthcare representatives.”
The two also discussed how to carry out a safe anti-polio drive for everyone amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Mr. Gates also appreciated Pakistan’s success against COVID-19 despite resource constraints,” said the statement. “The COAS attributed the success to a true national response executed through the mechanism of [National Command and Operation Center] which allowed optimization of resources.”
The American businessman reiterated the Gates Foundation’s ongoing commitment “to fight pandemics” around the world and to support Pakistan in its goals of ending polio and improving health for every child.
General Bajwa, Bill Gates discuss Pakistan’s anti-polio campaign
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General Bajwa, Bill Gates discuss Pakistan’s anti-polio campaign
- The American business tycoon praises the army for supporting the anti-polio drive and ensuring its reach and coverage
- The army chief passes on the credit to ‘grassroots workers’
Bahraini commander witnesses Pakistan Navy passing-out parade in Karachi
- Rear Admiral Ahmed Mohamed bin Ali says it is a matter of immense pleasure for him to review commissioning of personnel at his alma mater
- The training you have received has prepared you to step into a challenging yet deeply satisfying career, he tells young officers, midshipmen
ISLAMABAD: Rear Admiral Ahmed Mohamed Ebrahim Al bin Ali, commander of Royal Bahrain Naval Force, witnessed passing-out parade of Pakistan Navy’s 124th Midshipmen and 32nd Short Service Commission Course in Karachi, where he spoke with the newly inducted officers.
The passing-out parade was held at the Pakistan Naval Academy, at which Commandant Commodore Zia-ur-Rehman congratulated 90 midshipmen and 38 cadets who had completed short service commission after going through academic and training phases.
In his address, Rear Admiral Ali said it was a matter of immense pleasure for him to review the commissioning of personnel at his alma mater, the Pakistan Naval Academy, which he had joined as a cadet in February 1983.
“You must be confident and self-assured that you have been trained at one of the best naval academies of the region. The training you have received at Pakistan Naval Academy has prepared you to step into a challenging yet deeply satisfying career,” he told the young officers and midshipmen.
“It has equipped you with essential military and academic skills and you should spare no effort to build up on these to achieve excellence in your professions.”
Pakistan armed forces have long been training cadets and officers from friendly countries. Currently, the Pakistan Naval Academy is training future officers from Bahrain, Djibouti, Iraq, Sri Lanka and Turkiye.
The Bahraini commander said that being here as the chief guest had taken him back to yesteryears and he would have flashbacks of the familiar sounds and aura of this naval academy.
“I cannot help but marvel at the wonderful transformation that has taken place since my days,” he said.
Pakistan and Bahrain have maintained close diplomatic, security, trade and defense relations and have undertaken joint training and security initiatives, besides regular high-level exchanges.
Bahrain’s Read Admiral Ali met Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf earlier this week, according to Pakistan Navy. They discussed matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security and avenues for bilateral naval cooperation.
Earlier in Sept., Pakistan and Bahrain agreed to enhance cooperation in naval training and regional maritime security operations. During the same month, the Bahraini Chief of Defense Staff Lt. Gen. Thiab Saqer Abdulla Al-Nuaimi met with Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and expressed Bahrain’s interest in learning from the PAF’s experience in multi-domain operations.
