Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to provide $200mn for ‘Ehsas Program’

• The amount will be provided next year.
• A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two parties.
• The amount will be spent on 134 poverty alleviation projects.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will provide Pakistan an amount of 200 million dollars in support of the 'Ehsas Program' initiative to alleviate poverty in Pakistan.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates held a meeting which was also attended by Chairperson of ‘Ehsas Program’ Sania Nishtar. During the meeting, both signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

According to the MoU, 200 million dollars will be spent on 134 poverty alleviation projects. Speaking on the occasion, the premier said the program is a big project in the history of Pakistan and he is pleased that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will assist with a range of activities related to the program.

Pakistan and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today signed a Memorandum of Understanding in support of the Ehsaas initiative to alleviate poverty in Pakistan. #UNGA #UNGA74 #PMIKInUSA pic.twitter.com/XU1CLkOLek

— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) September 25, 2019

The PM also expressed full commitment to put measures in place to end polio once and for all. Earlier in August, Gates had written a letter to the PM reaffirming support for the Polio-Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of polio eradication efforts in Pakistan.

Gates had also pledged to continue working with the relevant authorities in Pakistan to eradicate polio virus from the country.